Diwali celebration 2022; let’s make this festive week more dazzling for every life

Diwali is the most important Hindu festival that marks the triumph of light over darkness, truth over ignorance, and good over evil. People believed a bright New Year’s Day scored this victory in ancient times. The term Diwali was derived from the Sanskrit word “Deepavali.” Diwali means many things to many people. It is a Hindu festival, marking the victory of lights. But as the word indicates, it is also a new beginning for many. It is a festival of lights, and lights are also related to prosperity.

Diwali is celebrated in all parts of India, mainly in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. People associate this festival with spiritual purity and selfless service for others besides lighting many lamps to illuminate their homes, temples, streets, or shops. People also observe it as thanksgiving for a good harvest that year or for providing enough light at night; otherwise, darkness would have invaded them at night.

Diwali 2022:

According to the Hindu calendar, Diwali 2022 will be celebrated on October 24, 2022. The worship of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi on this day is referred to as Lakshmi Ganesh Puja for Diwali Puja. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and good over evil beings.

It is celebrated on this day because Lord Ganesh is believed to have been born at midnight on this day at Amavasya (new moon) time. Hence people celebrate the festival with great pomp and show in honour of Lord Ganesha. The offering made on the day of Diwali is colored lamps, rangolis, or flowers and people worship Lord Ganpati by lighting on this festival.

Significance of Diwali:

The festival of Diwali celebrates the victory of goodness over evil. Lights and diyas represent the destruction of evil and shadowy forces. Everyone gathering to celebrate and pray creates an atmosphere of love and purity. It is a day to consider the past so one can make wiser decisions in the upcoming year.

This day represents forgetting and forgiving; it is similar to giving yourself and the world around you a new beginning. People celebrate prosperity by giving gifts to friends, family, and co-workers. The festival of Diwali sends out a message to lighten up inside of us and drive out all the darkness.

5-Days Diwali Celebration:

Day 1: Dhanteras:

People clean up their homes on this day, prepare for the festivities, and buy new kitchenware. Additionally, they shop and believe purchasing new kitchen appliances or gold is lucky. Some consider it lucky to buy gold if they wish to invest in them. These purchases are made on the first day of Diwali, which is called Dhanteras.

Day 2: Choti Diwali:

People begin decorating their homes on Choti Diwali. Children hang lights and create rangolis. To purify their souls, people worship Lord Krishna, Goddess Kali, Hanuman, and Yamaraj on this day.

Day 3: Diwali and Lakshmi Puja:

The main festival day-3, when the entire family come together for the pooja, followed by the distribution of delectable dishes and sweets. The aarti of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is performed by family members.

Day 4: Padwa:

The love a husband and wife share is celebrated on this day. Since this day is thought to be quite promising, many businessmen open new accounts. People rest or go out with their loved ones on this day to prepare for the following celebrations.

Day 5: Bhai Duj:

On the fifth day of the festival, brothers and sisters exchange sweets and gifts with each other leaving a note that says ‘Bhai duj ki shubkamna’ meaning “let’s forget our past differences.” The festival ends on Bhaiduj as it ends a period of less fortune, discipline, and happiness.

History and Origin of Diwali Celebration

The festival of lights, known as Diwali, where people decorate their homes and courtyards with sparkling lights and diyas, is well-known worldwide. Perhaps no one knows when this festival started becoming a staple of every home. Because of this, describing one reason for this celebration is also tricky. Numerous tales from well-known mythology are connected to this magnificent festival of lights. This festival is observed on the same day across the nation for different reasons. So, after researching all the well-known popular myths of Diwali, here are a few of them for you. The following stories will help you review cultural history.

1. Tale of The Ramayana:

The story of Ramayana is the most well-known one when it comes to telling the reason of the Diwali festival. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Rama, his brother Lakshmana, and his wife Sita were forced to endure a 14-year exile. Ravana, the evil king of Lanka, kidnapped Sita while she was in exile. At this point, Lord Rama has finally defeated Lanka and rescued Sita after a long struggle and quest. When Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana returned to Ayodha on a New Moon day during the Hindu month of Karthika, the town’s citizens lit up countless lamps and diyas to commemorate their triumph.

2. From the Mahabharata:

Mahabharata, another epic, tells the story of the Kauravas and Pandavas and their never-ending struggle for the throne. The Kauravas defeated the five Pandava brothers in a game of chance, and as retribution, they were sentenced to a 13-year exile. After serving those punishing 13 years, they returned to their hometown of Hastinapur on a New Moon day of the Karthika month.

The average person respected them because they were straightforward, modest, loving, and gentle. People in Hastinapur decorated their homes with colorful lights or diyas to welcome them back. Some cultural sects consider this incident the beginning of the Diwali celebration because the story is similar to the Ramayana.

3. Goddess Lakshmi’s Birthday:

On Diwali Day the most common goddess worshipped in Hindu homes is the Goddess Lakshmi. Diwalis is also celebrated because it is her birthday. In the beginning, both Gods and Demons lived mortal lives like others, according to Hindu scriptures, but they constantly yearned for immortality. Samudra Manthan, also known as the churning of the great ocean in search of Amrita, or the liquid of immortality, occurred. Numerous objects rose to the surface as the entire sea was agitated. One of them was Goddess Lakshmi, the Milky Ocean’s daughter.

Her birthday happened to coincide with the Karthika month’s New Moon. Lakshmi’s calm beauty overwhelmed Lord Vishnu, who immediately wed her. To commemorate this event, lamps or diyas were lit in a line. Since then, Lakshmi worship has been associated with Diwali to obtain her blessings.

Diwali Importance:

The importance of Diwali is a significant reason why Hindus celebrate it so intensely. Hinduism has been around for thousands of years, and its followers believe their religion is the oldest. The festival is celebrated to honor their origins and to show respect to their most famous deity Lakshmi. This great goddess’ birth coincides with the Karthika month’s celebration of the New Moon.

During Hinduism’s early years, this was a significant festival as it was believed that once dawn reached its peak on the New Moon Day, all sin would be washed away from humanity by the divine light of God Vishnu. The New Moon symbolizes a beginning and an end, so it is believed that new faces are made on Diwali Eve, and the festival ends on Bhai Dooj.

The Diwali Festival is celebrated to show gratitude to God Vishnu for giving the world hospitality and humans the knowledge of understanding all creation. At this time of the year, the festival embodies a great sense of happiness and hope. The many colors used in decorations bring up images of intense love and warmth that can only be felt during this time of year.

Conclusion:

This festival teaches an important lesson – we should be grateful for what we have and always try to see the world in a positive light. This will help us spread happiness and positivity to others, which is very much needed in today’s world, where negativity seems to prevail. The holiday of light and learning promotes family values and love for your fellow human beings. There is no other festival like Diwali and its celebration of love, happiness, unity, peace, and harmony.

Business Connect Magazine wishes all its readers Happy Diwali!

FAQs

Q.1- How Indians celebrate Diwali?

It is observed 20 days following Dussehra. In general, people dress to impress, worship the goddess Lakshmi, decorate their homes with lovely rangolis and diyas, purchase new technology or jewellery, exchange presents like sweets and dried fruits, and gather for family feasts and celebrations.

Q.2- Why Diwali is not celebrated in south India?

As the festival of lights, Diwali is celebrated in northern India and is associated with Ram’s return from exile to his kingdom in Ayodhya. However, the event, also known as Naraka Chaturdashi, is celebrated in the south as a celebration of Krishna’s triumph over Narakasura.

Q.3- Do all Indians celebrate Diwali?

Yes. Everyone is welcome to participate in the festivities because it is the most significant day in the Hindu calendar. Diwali, also known as the festival of lights or Deepavali in south India, is a time for performing religious rites and exchanging folktales.