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Five
Days of Diwali Festival |
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Diwali
| Legend
| Riti
Riwaz |
Menu
| Preparation
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| The
First day of Diwali : Dhanteras
The First day is
called Dhanteras or Dhantryaodashi, which
falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. . |
| The
Second day of Diwali : Narak
Chaturdasi
It is the
fourteenth lunar day (thithi) of the dark forthnight of the
month of Kartik and the eve of Diwali. On this day Lord
Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free
from fear.
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| The
third day : Diwali
On
the dark new moon night, the entrances to all homes are lit up
and decorated with rangoli patterns to welcome Lakshmi, the
radiant consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth and
lustre. Lakshmi Puja is performed on this day.
Diwali
is the last day of financial year in traditional Hindu
business and businessmen perform Chopda Pujan on this day on
the new books of accounts. Diwali is the festival when the new
business year begins it is said that Diwali is the "Time
to shop or start new ventures".
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fourth day : New
Year day or Bestavarsh
The Fourth day is
called Padwa or VarshaPratipada that marks the coronation of
King Vikramaditya and Vikaram-Samvat was started from this
Padwa day.
The day after the
Lakshmi Puja, most families celebrate the new year by dressing
in new clothes, wearing jewellery and visiting family members
and business colleagues to give them sweets, dry fruits and
gifts.
On this day,
Goverdhan Pooja is performed. As per
Vishnu-Puran, the people of Gokul used to celebrate a festival
in honour of Lord Indra and worshipped him after the end of
every monsoon season. But one particular year the young
Krishna stopped them from offering prayers to Lord Indra who
in terrific anger sent a deluge to submerge Gokul. But Krishna
saved his Gokul by lifting up the Govardhan Mountain and
holding it over the people as an umbrella.
This day is
also observed as Annakoot and prayers are offered in the
temples. In temples especially in Mathura and Nathadwara,
the deities are given milkbath, dressed in shining attires
with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other
precious stones. |
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Fifth day of Diwali : Bhai
Dhooj
The second day of
the bright forthnight (Shukla Paksh) of Kartik is called
"Bhaiya-Duj". It
comes once a year - after Diwali.
The name itself
denotes the day of the festival i.e.Diwali falls on the
absolutely dark night of Amdvasya (new moon), Dooj comes two
days after Diwali.
Many years ago, in the Vedic era, Yama (Yamraj, the Lord
of death) visited His sister Yamuna(Yami) and she
put the auspicious tilak on his forehead, they ate talked and
enjoyed together and exchanged special gifts as a token of
their love for each other and Yamraj announced that anyone who
receives tilak from his sister on this day will never be
thrown.
Since then it
became imperative for the brother to go to his sister's house
to celebrate Bhaiyaduj.On
Bhai Dooj, the teeka is applied on the brother's
forehead. It
is a day dedicated to sisters. We have heard about Raksha
Bandhan (brothers day). Well this is sisters day.
The sister
usually goes in the morning and does the puja in the mother's
house, before the brothers leave for their places of
study or work. |
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Some
Beliefs about Diwali
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Why
do people clean and decorate their homes for Diwali?
Diwali
is considered to be the festival of the Goddess wealth and
prosperity Laxmi - Goddess Laxmi visits all homes to bless the
people and so to welcome the goddess homes are cleaned &
decorated.
Why do people
Light up their homes with clay oil lamps?
People light up their
homes to welcome Goddess Laxmi. Clay lamps also indicates the
victory of Light over Darkness, Good over Evil, as well as the
victory of Truth over Falsehood and that man can succeed only
through his virtues.
Why do
people play cards on Diwali?
It
is believed that goddess Parvati played dice with her
husband, Lord Shiv on this day and she decreed that
whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the
ensuring year.This tradition of playing cards- flash and rummy
with stakes on this particular day continues even to day. |
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Copyright © 2004 www.indoindians.com
Last modified:
November 08, 2004
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Ganesh
Chaturti
Durga
Pooja