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The Third day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day of Lakshmi-Puja,
which is entirely devoted to the Goddess Lakshmi. The mythical belief is
that on this day Lakshmi emerged from the ocean. Lakshmi-Puja commemorates her birth
and therefore forms a major part of Diwali celebrations. It is believed that on
this day Lakshmi walks the earth in every bye-lane and showers her blessings on
each household for prosperity. This day is also known by the name of "Chopada-Puja".
The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of Amavasya (new moon). It is believed
that on this auspicious day Lord Krishna discarded his body. "Lakshmi-Puja" is performed
in the evenings when tiny diyas (clay lamps) are lit to drive away the shadows of
evil spirits. "Bhajans"(devotional songs) are sung and "Naivedya"( sweetmeats or
traditionally-lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery ) is offered to the
Goddess.
On this very day sun enters his second course and passes Libra which is represented
by the balance or scale. Hence, this representation of Libra is believed to have
suggested the balancing of account books and they're closing and thus businesses
and personal account books are started/closed on this day. Despite the fact that
this day falls on an amavasya day it is regarded as the most auspicious.
One more interesting story related to this day is of a small boy called Nichiketa
who believed that Yam, the god of Death was as black as the dark night of amavasya.
He on this day met Yam in person and was puzzled seeing Yam's calm countenance and
dignified stature. Yam explained to Nichiketa on this day of amavasya that by only
passing through the darkness of death, man sees the light of highest wisdom and
then only his soul can escape from the bondage of his mortal frame to mingle with
the Supreme Power without whose will nothing moves in the world. And then Nichiketa
realised the importance of worldly life and significance of death. Nichiketa's all
doubts were set at rest and he whole-heartedly participated in Diwali celebrations.
The Fourth day is Padwa or Varshapratipada, which marks the
coronation of King Vikramaditya, and Vikaram-Samvat was started from this day. The
Govardhan-Puja (mountain worship) is also performed on this day. The people of Gokul
used to celebrate a festival in honour of Lord Indra and worshipped him after the
end of every monsoon season. But one particular year the young Lord Krishna
stopped them from offering prayers to Lord Indra who in terrific anger sent a deluge
to submerge Gokul. But Krishna saved Gokul by lifting up the Govardhan Mountain
and holding it over the people as an umbrella. This day is also observed as Annakoot
meaning mountain of food. Statues of deities are given a milk-bath and then
dressed in shimmering attire with colourful ornaments. After the prayers a variety
of sweetmeat is ceremoniously raised in the form of a mountain before the deities
and the devotees approach the Mountain of Food and take Prasad (sweetmeat blessed
by the deity) from it.
The Fifth and final day of Diwali Festival is known by the name Bhaiya-Dooj
or Bhav-Bij or Bhai-Tika This day is observed as a symbol of love
between sisters and brothers. The legendary belief is that on this day Yamraj -the
god of death visited his sister Yami and she put the auspicious tilak on
his forehead. They spent the day together, talking, eating, sharing stories of their
lives and exchanged special gifts as a token of their love for each other. Yamraj
then announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister on this day would
never be thrown. Since then it became symbolic for the brother to go to his sister's
house to celebrate this day. Today sisters apply tilak to their brothers and pray
for their long and happy life. In all likelihood, this ritual was originally intended
only for married women. Since they celebrated Diwali with their in-laws, this festival
allowed them to come to their parent's home during this auspicious time. They got
some time to meet the family and to rest after the hectic activity of the preceding
week. And it gave their parents an opportunity to give them gifts, an opportunity
they did not often get. Nowadays however, among many communities both married and
unmarried sisters observe Bhai-Dooja. It is regarded as a day for the brother
and sister to meet and generally re-establish/reinstate the love in their relationship.
Today however, Diwali on the whole is the festival with more social than religious
connotations. It is a personal, people-oriented festival when enmities are forgotten,
families and friends meet, exchange gifts and enjoy feeling of warmth and happiness.
This festive occasion also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The origin
of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important
harvesting season. It was thus extremely important to the largely pastoral Vaishya
community. Their granaries were full, and the weather was good, at the end of the
long monsoon and before the arduous winter. It was therefore a good time to celebrate.
The Vaishya community began their New Year with this happy occasion, after paying
their debts and clearing their ledgers. They stared their day with the ritual bath,
which begins with an oil massage of the hair and body. This was absolutely essential
on this day. Its importance probably refers to cleaning oneself thoroughly after
the monsoon months. As the religion developed, various mythological stories and
explanations were attributed to this festival to give it religious sanction. However
today, this historical explanation is all but lost among the many stories and folklore
linked with the origin of the festival. Today people receive new clothes and gifts
from their elders, which they are expected to wear.
The family then prays for its well being and prosperity. After the prayers start
the main celebrations which consist of bursting crackers and lighting candles. People
then visit friends and relatives and exchange sweets and gifts. Being one of the
main festivals of the trader community, markets are gaily decorated and lit up.
Firecrackers are lit and burst throughout the five days (According to one belief,
the sound that resounds throughout the universe makes all aware of the great homecoming
of Rama. Another belief is that the crackers are an indication of the joy of the
people living on the earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still
another possible reason has amore scientific basis:the fumes produced by the crackers
kill a lot of insects, found in plenty after the rains.
However the use of high-tech bomb crackers is fairly recent.) Even the significance
of wealth has changed over the years and today the days are considered lucky for
gambling. Giving social sanction to a vice, a popular saying states that one who
does not gamble on this day will be born a donkey in his next birth. Casinos and
local gambling houses do risk business during the Diwali week. In most homes, people
invite their friends and relatives over to play cards.
In West Bengal, the Deepawali festival is celebrated as Kali-Puja and Kali,
Siva's (the destroyer) consort, is worshipped on this day. It is believed that on
this day Kali killed the wicked Raktavija.
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- Anita Ramchandani
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