Diwali on 09 November 2007

Package from 02 Nov to till 12 Nov 2007

An array of lights, an immense variety of sweets, the distribution of countless gifts and a plethora of celebrations, all this and much more is the paraphernalia of the legendary Hindu festival named Deepavali.

Having the most beautiful way of celebration, Deepavali is the festival that occupies a place deep down in the heart and soul of every Indian. As per the legend, it was on the day of Deepavali Rama’s coronation took place after his victorious return to Ayodhya from Lanka vanquishing Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. For a long period, Ayodhya had been plunged into darkness during Rama’s exile. In the absence of the effulgent Rama, Ayodhya was a city of darkness. Therefore the people of Ayodhya hailed the return of Rama. They celebrated the event by the lighting earthen lamps everywhere.

Another legendary mention of the festival says that it was on this day only that Lord Vishnu in his Vamana incarnation sent emperor Bali to the nether world after getting three feet of ground as promised by Bali.

Going back to the ancient times, we find another legend of Deepavali or Diwali. Five thousand years ago some planets used to move around earth. Some of these planets kept disappearing from time to time. One of these planets was named Naraka. In the course of their orbits, sometimes the moon and the Naraka planet used to get close to each other. At one time, the Naraka planet appeared to be approaching close to the earth. Thus inhabitants of the earth were filled with dread of the approaching catastrophe. They prayed to the Lord for diverting the imminent disaster and saving them. At that stage, Sri Krishna used his extraordinary knowledge (Prajnana) to destroy that planet. This extraordinary knowledge of Krishna was termed Sathya. That is to say, Krishna destroyed the Naraka planet taking association with Sathya. The denizens of the world started celebrating that day with lighting of lamps and adoring the Lord who saved them. That day of the Lord’s triumph was celebrated as a festive occasion.

On Deepavali, we celebrate the destruction of the wicked traits like lust, pride, hate and envy; collectively personified as Narakasura, for, they, by their collective effect, lead man into hell or Naraka. Those traits are the wild weeds that smother the seedlings of love and truth of sympathy and service of reverence and communication, which man seeks to collect in his heart. Traditionally Deepavali has always been witnessing Laxmi Pujan as one of the major celebration- a veneration of the Prosperity at the end of a Harvest. Veneration of this prosperity must have been at the origin of the worship of the Goddess of wealth (Laxmi). The harvest was an important occasion for rejoicing in all-agrarian societies as every harvest normally spelt prosperity. The end of one harvest and beginning of another meant the end of one cycle of activity and the beginning of another, as all activities in an agrarian economy must have been linked-up largely with agriculture. Hence it was quite natural to look upon a festival that was observed at the end of one harvest season and the beginning of a new one, as a festival heralding the beginning of a new year.

The festival is therefore very rightly termed ‘Harvest Festival’ too. People prepare delicacies from pounded semi-cooked rice called Poha or Pauva on this day. The rice used to cook Poha is taken from the fresh harvest. Moreover, people distribute sweets amongst their friends, exchange gifts, wear new clothes, decorate their houses and also shop endlessly. In the night, they illuminate their houses with earthen lamps, candles and electric lamps etc. Children burn crackers also to express their joys.

INormally observed as a five day festivity, the second day of Deepavali incorporates rituals that are strongly suggestive of the origin of Deepavali as harvest festival. On this day therefore, worship of the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi and performance of Aarti are a part of the harvest festival. Farmers in the rural areas offer prayers to the deity thus thanking her for the bountiful dispensations that she bestowed upon them..