Diwali is a five day festival, and it is one of the prominent festivals in India. Diwali celebration starts from Dhanteras (on the 13th of Ashwin month). This day is celebrated to commemorate the emergence of Dhanvantri, the celestial physician, taking the pot of the elixir of the immortality (Amrit) at the time of churning of the ocean of milk. This day people purchase utensils and other metal goods. Buying of utensils signifies that Lakshmi is about to emerge, and to preserve Lakshmi urn is required.
The second day is celebrated as Narak Chaturdasi. On that day, Lord Krishna along with his wife Satyabhama had killed Naraksura. Naraksura was the son of Vishnu incarnation. In Varah incarnation Vishnu had fathered Naraksura along with his wife Bhudevi (goddess earth). And in Krishna incarnation, he and his wife had killed him. On this day, wives apply oil on the body of their husbands. This is for removing the physical and mental pain after the battle from the Asura. Killing Asura is the indication of harvesting crops. The crops are seeded and harvested by the humans for their subsistence, the way Naraksura was fathered and killed by Vishnu incarnation.
The second day is also celebrated as “Chhoti Diwali” (small Diwali), on this day, people venerate Yama, the god of death. Yama keeps the account of the Karma and the fate of everyone. Blessing of Lakshmi depends upon humans fate and skill. In farming or any business to flourish, we need both fate and skill. People venerate Yama to keep the fate on their side.
The third day is the day of Lakshmi. On this day, Lakshmi along with Ganesha is worshiped. On the new moon, in ditch dark, the series of lights are lit and crackers are busted. This is a celebration of the arrival of Lakshmi. Lakshmi`s twin sister is Alakshmi. Alakshmi is the dark, silent, bitterness and destitute. Lakshmi is the light, celebration, sweetness and prosperity. Lakshmi, despite having the opposite quality from his sister, she never like disrespect of his sister by anyone. When Alakshmi is desecrated, then Lakshmi becomes anguish and walk away.
We lit the light to dispel darkness, bust the crackers to break the silence, distribute sweet to fade away bitterness and spread the prosperity. Distributing food and sweets on that day, gives the concept of market, give and take, to keep Laskhmi flow and grow. In this way, happily, we invite Lakshmi and with respect we bid adieu Alakshmi.
Lakshmi is never worshiped alone. In the absence of another god, she is accompanied by her sister Alakshmi, the goddess of strife and destitute. On this occasion, Lakshmi is worshipped along with Ganesha, the god of wisdom, so that, we can use our prosperity wisely to save ourselves to fall in indigence. On this day, gambled are played, which is the game of fate and skill. All the previous account gets cleared and a new book of account is created. The gaining of the last year is the result of the fate and skill. We celebrate for what we have got, and worship for a better year ahead. Everyone is treated equally on this day.
The fourth day, Bali Pratipatha is celebrated. Bali was an Asura and the ruler of the three worlds. The Asura`s place is subterranean. But Bali, by his vigor and strength, had spread his reign in three worlds. Vishnu, in his Vaman incarnation, shoved Bali to the netherworld, the original place of the Asuras. This signify of the social order. On Diwali, everyone was equal. The next day onwards, everyone need to start involving in their own profession, need to recognize their own place.
The fifth day, Bhaiya Duj is celebrated. On this day, brother visits to his sister to know her well-beings. This day, Yama visits his sister Yamini (in the form of Lakshmi) to know how she is being treated. Yama, the keeper of fate, favor those families or people where his sister is being treated and used wisely.
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