om shri sai nathay namah
Diwali: A Combination of Five Festivals
Are you prepared for the most awaited Hindu festival?
The festival of sweets, smiles, crackers, new clothes and loads of celebration is here. It is the brightest period in the Indian calender and is known as Diwali. This festival is just round the corner and everyone is in the hustle to prepare in advance for it. Hindus the world over are overjoyed at the prospect of this festival. Its difficult to pinpoint the origin of this festival though according to the Hindu mythology it was this day that Lord Rama became the king of Ayodhya. The people of Ayodhya were so happy that they illuminated the entire city with eathern lamps and thus this festival started from there on. Another reason for the celebration of Diwali is that in India this was the time of the year when the harvesting process was through and the people had the proper finances and food stocks for the entire year. They joyfully celebrated this occasion as Diwali by illuminating numerous lamps and decorating their homes with beautiful artifacts. Diwali being the main Hindu festival is basically a combination of five festivals namely:
Dhanteras
Narak Chaturdashi
Diwali
Govardhan
Bhaiya Dooj
Dhanteras:
The Legend Behind Dhanteras: The first festival to be celebrated in this combination is the festival of Dhanteras which is celebrated on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu calendar. The legend behind this festival is that the son of Emperor Hima was doomed to die after the fourth day of his marriage by a snake bite and so his wife in order to save him placed all her gold jewelery and lighted numerous lamps at the door of his room. She kept on singing the entire night. When Yama the God of death came disguised as a snake to bite the young prince its eyes were bedazzled by the brightness of all the jewels and instead of biting the prince it just sat on the pile of jewelery and listened to the songs which were being sung buy the wife of the prince. the next morning it left without killing the prince. Since that day this day is being celebrated as the day of "Yamadeepdaan."
Dhanteras Puja: Generally this is the time around which the peiple re-decorate and renovate their houses. People light oils lamps and place them infront of their houses. Beautiful Rangolis are made at the entrance to welcome Lakshmi the Goddess of money. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the house. It is one of the most auspicious day to buy gold, silver and it is customary to buy some utensils on this day.
Narak Chaturdashi:
The Legend Behind Narak Chaturdashi: The day after Dhanteras is called Narka-Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali which is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The legend behind the celebration of this festival is about the King Bali who was not only a very wise and a powerful king but was also the biggest philanthropic. He started a major praying ritual to enhance his powers so that he could rule the Gods as well. to save the Gods from this Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a small boy and came to King Bali and asked him for only that much amount of land which he could cover in three steps. The king being a big philanthropic granted him his wish. In his first step he covered the entire heaven. In his second step he covered the earth and then asked the king where to keep the third step. By this time the king was sure that he was face to face with God and so he offered his own head for the Lord to keep his third step. Lord Vishnu as very impressed with his humble gesture and so he allowed King Bali to visit Earth only once in a year to illuminate it with millions of lamps and spread his knowledge and wisdom among its inhabitants.
Narak Chaturdashi Puja: On this auspicious day people get up early in the morning and take bath in the perfumed waters. New clothes are worn on this day and in the evening the house is lit with candles, lamps and electric lights. People burst crackers and the beautiful fireworks create the most magical moments for one to remember for a lifetime.
Diwali:
The day after Narak Chaturdashi is the main festival of Diwali which is celebrated on the Amavasya. On this day people pray to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi is symbolic of good fortune and wealth and Lord Ganesh is symbolic of the intelligence required to utilize the wealth that we have. The houses are cleaned in the mornings, people make sweets and decorate their house entrances with beautiful Rangolis which are a symbol of welcome. The business men arrange special praying rituals at their shops so that the Goddess Lakshmi brings them good luck and high prosperity for their business. Apart from the eathern lamps and candles the exteriors of the houses are decorated with beautiful and colorful lights. On this auspicious occasion even the poorest of poor buy atleast one eathern lamp to place them in front of their house.
The Puja Vidhi: First clean the Puja room and then Bathe each Deity (Lakshmi & Ganesh) first with water, then with panchamitra/or rose water, followed by water once more Now put Deepak (Lamp) in front of the Deities - As the tiny illuminated diyas are symbolic of driving away the shadows of evil spirits The Panchamrit is made which is a blend of five basic ingredients of: milk, curd, ghee (clarified butter), sugar and honey together with some dry fruits. Place few mithais (sweets), snacks and fruits as a prashad. Start the puja by making and offering of Akshat (uncooked rice), Abir (dry red color), Sindoor (vermilion) and fresh flowers on the idols of lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. Light the Agarbatti (incense sticks) and lamps filled with Ghee. Now make offerings of Fruit, Sweet dishes (mithai), Salty snacks (Mathis, Ghathia, Namakpare) and offer Dakshina (token money), which could be given to the poor. In the end offer paan (betel leaves), cloves. Now pray to the deities to seek their blessings. Sing the Ganesh Aarti. Place Lotus and other flowers at the feet of Goddess Lakshmi. Place a silver coin in front of the Goddess during the puja. Now perform Aarti with flowers in hand. After the puja take the small diyas and place them in each room of the house and also out side the house. After this it is the time for every one to burst crackers and enjoy the beautiful fireworks illuminating the sky.
Govardhan:
The Legend Behind Govardhan: The day after Diwali is called Padwa. It is the beginning of the New Year according to the Hindu calendar. Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on this day. According to the Hindu mythology the people of Gokul used to worship Lord Indra the God of rains. in one particular year Lord Krishna asked them not to worship Lord Indra and so the Lord Indra got annoyed. He made it rain so heavily in Gokul that the people had to ask Lord Krishna to save them. He lifted the Govardhan mountain on his finger and protected the people under this umbrella.
Govardhan Puja: Many people celebrate this day as Annakoot which means mountain of food. The idols of the deities are given milk baths and they are dressed in most beautiful of dresses and ornaments. Prayer services are held and afterwards Bhog comprising of several sweets and and other edible items are served to the devotees. In numerous Hindu houses the wife puts Tilak on the fore head of her husband and pray or his long life and in return the husband give her some gift. Also this day is known as the Gudi Padwa wherein the newly wed daughter with her husband visits her family and they have special meals cooked specially in their honer.
Bhaiya Dooj:
According to the Hindu mythology on this day Yama the Lord o Death visits his sisters house and she puts Tilak on his fore head and prays for his long life. This day is symbolic of the love and the affection shared between a brother and a sister. On this day a sister puts a Tilak on her brother's fore head and the brother gives her some gift.
The festive season is knocking. Its the time for major celebrations so go ahead and have a blast.
Topic: Diwali: A Combination of Five Festivals (Read 984 times)