Deepawali is the celebration of light. In the year 2011 Deepawali will be celebrated on 26th October. Philosophically, the festival is meant to achieve light and to rule out darkness in life, thought and work.
Deepawali is also termed as Diwali and ‘festival of Light’ in English. Deepawali means – Deepa means lamp in Hindi. Deepawali is its plural and usually refers to a row of lamps. In Deepawali celebrations people decorate their houses and business places with lamps kept in row, hence the celebration is termed ‘Deepawali’.
Deepawali falls on the Amabasya of the Kartia month. It is a Hindu festival and Goddess Laxmi is worshipped with fervor on this day. Decorating the home with oil earthen lamps is the first priority. But alternatives are seen to be in use these days. Those are – earthen pot with ghee, candles etc.
The main joyful event of Deepawali is bursting firecrackers. The whole family gets together on this day and firecrackers are burst, which provides immense pleasure to all.
The origin of the festival takes us to the mythology. The legend is, in the tretaya Yuga, Lord Rama, who killed Ravana on the Dusshera day, returned to Ayodhya, his capital, after completing a hermit of 14 years in the forest, on this day. Subjects of Ayodhya who were passionate about Lord Ram had lighted lamps in their houses and business places to welcome their favorite person along with His wife Sita and brother Laxmana. They had also burst firecrackers to make all know their welcome through sound and light.
Deepawali is widely celebrated these days across the world. It is the celebration of victory of good over evil. In these days the festival is celebrated in some places for five days. Each day of it has got its own rituals. However, among them the Diwali day, the Amabasya is the main day and this is celebrated through, worship of the Goddess Laxmi, bursting of firecrackers and decorating the house with lamps. People also distribute sweet and gifts on this day.
Banana tree, being a sacred one are decorated as a welcome gate in front of the main entrance. Lotus flowers, being the favorite of Goddess Laxmi are also decorated along with the banana tree. The house is kept clean to its best as Goddess Laxmi is believed to be present only in clean places and immediately leaves dirty places. The house also kept lighted so as to welcome the Goddess, giving Her ample light to enter the house with ease. Decorative art works are also done on the ground of the entrance to attract the Goddess to come to that house. The said art is drawn leading it to the original place of worship, inside the house, where actually the idols of the Goddess are kept for worship purpose.
In simple words, because Goddess Laxmi is the giver of wealth, every possible arrangement is made to welcome Her and bless us with wealth.
No comments:
Post a Comment