Diwali:Celebrating Light Over Darkness Across India

Diwali, also known as Deepavali or the “Festival of Lights,” is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in India and across the Indian diaspora. Spanning five days, Diwali is a joyous and auspicious occasion symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists, Diwali is marked by lighting diyas (oil lamps) and candles, decorating homes with rangoli, bursting firecrackers, exchanging sweets and gifts, and worshipping deities like Lakshmi (goddess of wealth and prosperity) and Ganesha (god of wisdom and auspicious beginnings). Diwali is a time for family reunions, new beginnings, and spreading joy and goodwill.

The Five Days of Diwali:

Diwali is not just a single day festival; it’s a five-day celebration, with each day having its own significance and rituals:

• Day 1: Dhanteras (Dhan Trayodashi): Marks the beginning of Diwali. “Dhan” means wealth, and “Teras” is the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Kartik month. ¹ On this day, people worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Kubera, the treasurer of the gods. It is considered auspicious to buy new utensils, gold, or silver items. Many also light the first diya of Diwali.   
• Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali): The 14th day, and often considered “Choti Diwali” or smaller Diwali. This day commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and liberation from suffering. Early morning oil baths and lighting diyas are important rituals.
• Day 3: Lakshmi Puja (Diwali – Main Day): The most important day of Diwali, occurring on the new moon night of Kartik. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening, worshipping Goddess Lakshmi for wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Homes are brightly lit, doors and windows are left open to invite Lakshmi in. Special sweets are prepared and offered to the goddess. This is the day of maximum fireworks and grand celebrations.
• Day 4: Govardhan Puja (Padwa/Bali Pratipada): The first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. Govardhan Puja is celebrated to honor Lord Krishna’s protection of the villagers from Indra’s wrath by lifting Govardhan Hill. It also marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya. In some regions, it is also celebrated as Bali Pratipada, commemorating King Bali. Food offerings are made to Govardhan Hill (often represented symbolically).
• Day 5: Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya): The final day, dedicated to the bond between brothers and sisters, similar to Raksha Bandhan. Sisters perform aarti for their brothers, apply tilak on their foreheads, and pray for their well-being. Brothers, in turn, offer gifts to their sisters. It also marks the day when Yama, the god of death, visited his sister Yami.

Rituals and Traditions of Diwali:

Diwali celebrations are rich in rituals and traditions that vary across regions and communities but share common underlying themes.

• Lighting Diyas and Candles: The most iconic tradition of Diwali is lighting diyas (small earthen oil lamps) and candles in and around homes. This symbolizes dispelling darkness and inviting light and auspiciousness. Electric lights and lanterns are also widely used today.
• Rangoli Decorations: Colorful rangoli designs are created at the entrance of homes using colored powders, flower petals, and sometimes rice flour. Rangoli patterns are often intricate and auspicious, welcoming deities and guests.
• Lakshmi Puja: Lakshmi Puja is the central religious ritual of Diwali, performed on the main day. Idols or images of Goddess Lakshmi and often Lord Ganesha are worshipped with elaborate rituals, mantras, flowers, fruits, sweets, and incense. Prayers are offered for prosperity and well-being.
• Fireworks and Firecrackers: Bursting fireworks and firecrackers is a prominent and often enthusiastic part of Diwali celebrations, especially in North India. Fireworks symbolize joy, celebration, and warding off evil spirits. However, there is growing awareness and campaigns for eco-friendly and quieter Diwali celebrations.
• Exchanging Sweets and Gifts: Exchanging sweets (mithai) and gifts is an integral part of Diwali. A wide variety of traditional Indian sweets are prepared and shared. Gifts, ranging from clothes and household items to decorative items and dry fruits, are exchanged among family and friends.
• New Clothes and Auspicious Purchases: Wearing new clothes on Diwali is customary. Many people also make auspicious purchases of gold, silver, or new items for their homes, especially on Dhanteras.
• Gambling (in some communities): In some communities, particularly in North India, playing cards and gambling are traditionally associated with Diwali, believed to be auspicious for attracting wealth. However, this practice is becoming less common and is often discouraged.

Mythological Significance:

Diwali is associated with various mythological narratives and deities, each highlighting the theme of the victory of good over evil. Some prominent mythological associations include:

• Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya: In the most widely prevalent narrative, Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana. The lighting of diyas symbolizes the people of Ayodhya welcoming Rama back with lamps to light his way in the darkness.
• Goddess Lakshmi and the Samudra Manthan: Diwali is primarily dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fortune. Lakshmi Puja is performed to invoke her blessings. Some legends associate Lakshmi’s emergence from the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) on the new moon day of Kartik with Diwali.
• Krishna and Narakasura: Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, who had imprisoned thousands of people. Krishna’s victory liberates them and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
• King Bali and Vamana: Govardhan Puja/Bali Pratipada in some regions is associated with the legend of King Bali and Lord Vamana (Vishnu’s dwarf avatar).

Regional Variations and Celebrations:

While the core spirit of Diwali remains the same across India, there are regional variations in customs, rituals, and specific deities worshipped.

• North India: Diwali celebrations are often grand and enthusiastic, with widespread fireworks, Lakshmi Puja, and strong emphasis on the Rama narrative.
• West India (Gujarat, Maharashtra): Diwali is particularly significant for business communities, with emphasis on Lakshmi Puja and new accounting year beginnings. Rangoli and lantern decorations are prominent.
• South India: While Lakshmi Puja is important, some regions in South India also emphasize worshipping Krishna for Naraka Chaturdashi. Oil baths, special sweets, and lighting lamps are key traditions.
• East India (Bengal, Odisha): In Bengal and parts of East India, Diwali is often associated with Kali Puja, worshipping Goddess Kali, the powerful and fierce form of Durga, on the new moon night.

Diwali Beyond India:

Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Indian diaspora worldwide. Celebrations in countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, Mauritius, and Trinidad and Tobago, among others, reflect the global reach of this festival.

Significance and Contemporary Relevance:

Diwali’s enduring appeal lies in its universal message of hope, renewal, and the triumph of good over evil.

• Festival of Hope and Renewal: Diwali marks the beginning of a new year in some traditions and is seen as a time for new beginnings, cleaning homes, starting fresh, and looking forward to a prosperous future.
• Family and Community Bonding: Diwali is primarily a festival of family and community, bringing people together for celebrations, rituals, and sharing joy.
• Spiritual Significance: At its core, Diwali is a spiritual festival, reminding people of the importance of inner light, knowledge, and virtuous conduct in overcoming darkness and negativity.
• Cultural Heritage and Continuity: Diwali is a vital part of Indian cultural heritage, preserving traditions, values, and artistic expressions across generations.
• Global Celebration of Indian Culture: Diwali’s widespread celebration globally showcases the richness and universality of Indian culture and its values.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, continues to illuminate lives and hearts across the globe, spreading its timeless message of hope, joy, and the enduring victory of light over darkness.