Diwali - "Festival of Lights”

ll Hari Om ll

Diwali - "Festival of Lights”

In Chapter 5 of Shri Sai Saccharitra, Shri Hemadpantji mentions that Baba was fond of lighting the lamps. Baba would light lamps and do deepoutsav during Diwali, lines – 101 to 104.

Deeparadhani bahu preet l Diwalichahi deepoutsav karit l

Chindhya kaduni vati valit l Deep ujalit mashidi ll 104 ll

Further Shri Hemadpantji describes Baba’s leela of “Turning water into oil”, lines-106 to 112.

Sai Baba was very fond of lights. He used to borrow oil from shop-keepers, and keep lamps burning the whole night in the Masjid and temple. This went on for some time. The Banias, who supplied oil gratis, once met together and decided not to give Him oil. When, as usual, Baba went to ask for oil, they all gave Him a distinct No. Unperturbed, Baba returned to the Masjid and kept the dry wicks in the lamps. The banias were watching Him with curiosity. Baba took the Tumrel (tin pot) which contained very little (a few drops) of oil, put water into it and drank it and forced it fall in the container. After consecrating the tin-pot in this way, He again took water in the tin-pot and filled all the lamps with it and lighted them. To the surprise and dismay of the watching Banias, the lamps began to burn and kept burning the whole night. The Banias repented and apologized. Baba forgave them and asked them to be more truthful in future. 

“Sanskrit word Deepavali means a row of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness”.

Diwali is an official holiday in 9 countries which includes India, Guyana, Mauritius, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, Fiji, and Suriname.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Deepavali or Diwali, popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five-day Hindu festival^[3] which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on the second lunar day of Shukla paksha of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Diwali being the festival of lights, across India people celebrate it via symbolic diyas or kandils (colourful paper lanterns) as an integral part of Diwali decorations.

Diwali celebrations are spread over five days, from Dhanteras to Bhaiduj. In some places like Maharashtra it starts with Vasu Baras. All the days except Diwali are named according to their designation in the Hindu calendar. The days are:

1. Govatsa Dwadashi or Vasu Baras (27 Ashvin or 12 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Go means cow and vatsa means calf. Dwadashi or Baras means the 12th day. On this day the cow and calf are worshiped. 

2. Dhanatrayodashi or Dhan teras or Dhanwantari Triodasi (28 Ashvin or 13 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Dhana means wealth and Trayodashi means 13th day. This day falls on the 13th day of the second half of the lunar month.

 

Dhanalaxmi and Shriyantra poojan is done on this day.

3. Naraka Chaturdashi (29 Ashvin or 14 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Chaturdashi is the 14th day. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.  

Ambadnya - Dr. Namitaveera Joshi

Hindus wake up before dawn, have a fragrant oil bath and dress in new clothes. They light small lamps all around the house and draw elaborate kolams /rangolis outside their homes.

Upasana for the day: To recite Ganpati Atharvashirsh in morning, it gives us benefit of reading 108 times.

After the puja, children burst firecrackers heralding the defeat of the demon. As this is a day of rejoicing, many will have very elaborate breakfasts and lunches and meet family and friends.

4. Lakshmi Puja (30 Ashvin or 15 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Lakshmi Puja marks the most important day of Diwali celebrations in North India. Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings also known as the remover of obastacles, and then light deeyas (little clay pots) in the streets and homes to welcome prosperity and well-being.

5. Bali Pratipada and Govardhan Puja (1 Kartika or 1 Shukla Paksha Kartika) :

In North India, this day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja, also called Annakoot, and is celebrated as the day Krishna – an incarnation of god Vishnu – defeated Indra and by the lifting of Govardhana hill to save his kinsmen and cattle from rain and floods. For Annakoot, large quantities of food are decorated symbolising the Govardhan hill lifted by Krishna. 

In Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it is celebrated as Bali-Pratipada or Bali Padyami. The day commemorates the victory of Vishnu in his dwarf form Vamana over the demon-king Bali, who was pushed into the patala. Vamana as Trivikrama, depicted having three legs, one on the earth, a second raised in the heavens and a third on Bali's head.

6. Yama Dwitiya or Bhaiduj (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) (2 Kartika or 2 Shukla Paksha Kartika): on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express love and affection for each other (Gujarati: Bhai Bij, Bengali: Bhai Phota). Brothers visit their sisters’ place on this day and usually have a meal there, and also give gifts to their sisters.

 

“May the devine light of Diwali spread in each ones life.”

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