5 Things you should know about Diwali

“Diwali” or Deepavali; known to be the “festival of lights” is celebrated every year in the Hindu samaj during autumn season.

5 Things you should know about Diwali

• What is the Meaning of Diwali?

 Significantly, Diwali portrays the spiritual essence of the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good on evil and hope over despair. This festival generally falls in the period of mid October to mid November.

• In the Northern part of India, Diwali is celebrated for the Return of Lord Rama from fourteen years exile to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana and his subsequent coronation as king.
• In Gujarat, Diwali is celebrated for the wealth Goddess Lakshmi.
• In Bengal, the festival is associated with Goddess Kali.
• In Nepal, Diwali is celebrated as a mark for the victory of Lord Krishna over the Demon King Narakasura.

• How many days this festival is celebrated?

This festival is generally celebrated for a period of five days. In the Indian culture, the festive days and the ritual names generally vary from one area to another. The most commonly known are:

• Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi) (first day)
• Naraka Chaturdashi ( specifies the day of Narakasura Vadha) (second day)
• Diwali (Third Day)
• Padva (Wife – Husband Relationship) (fourth day)
• Bhau- beej (Brother – sister Relationship) (fifth day)

Generally Dhanteras will come after 18 days to the Dussehra festival.

• Why Diwali is not celebrated on the same date every year?

The Hindu calendar is way different when compared to the Gregorian calendar. The Hindu calendar is based upon the lunar cycle i.e. the movement of the moon, so the festivals will change from year to year. Generally Diwali falls on the date of the New moon between the Hindu Months of Asvina and Kartika i.e. between October and November.

• Mantra for Fulfilling Wishes:

'Om namo bhagwati padhya padmavi om hrim om om purvey dakshinay uttaray aash purya sarvajan vashya kuru swaha.'

Place the portrait of the Goddess Lakshmi and chant this mantra for 108 times. After this chanting it is time to fire the crackers.

• Significance of Diwali:

We all know Ramayana and the character of the Demon King Ravana. This festival is celebrated for the return of Lord Rama to his Birth Place Ayodhya after fourteen years exile and the subsequent coronation as a king.

When Lord Rama and Goddess Sita were returning to Ayodhya after the war, it was a dark Moonless night, so the people of the Ayodhya decided to lit lamps outside their houses. so that the king and queen can find their way to Home and this became as a tradition of the Diwali.

Agrigold Group wishes "Happy Diwali"; May thousands of lamps beam up your life with never-ending pleasure, richness, fitness &affluence forever, yearning youand your family, a very "HAPPYDIWALI”.