Diwali or Deepavali means "the array of lights, it is a colorful festival that is celebrated by all Hindus worldwide. Diwali, which is also known as the festival of lights. This festival usually falls around late October and November. One important practice that the Hindus follow during the festival is to light oil lamps in their homes on Diwali morning. By lighting the oil lamps, the Hindus are thanking the Goddess Lakshmi for the happiness, knowledge, peace and wealth that they have received. The Hindus consider Diwali as one of the most important festivals to celebrate.
Preparation for Diwali starts usually at least two to three weeks before the festival. It is known that the Hindus will be busy cleaning their houses to prepare for the festival. Some would even renovate their houses to prepare it for Diwali. It is also believed that the Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi would enter a clean and cheerful house. Plenty of long-lost items are found and a lot of dirt is removed from the house.
Also the family will shop for new clothes and for accessories to decorate their homes. Prior to the festival, Indian shops will be selling festive items like Diwali greeting cards, sweets, Indian suits and flowers.
The houses would be decorated with oil lamps and children will play with firecrackers to celebrate the festival. On the first day, they would not go visiting but would stay at home to welcome the guests who visit them.
During Diwali, spring cleaning is done as it is believed that the Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi would enter a clean and cheerful house.
How much we care to cast away the rubbish that stirs up trouble within us, is a matter to consider. By lighting lamps in our home, let us strive to dispel the spiritual darkness that we seem to be seeped in, and let us make our heart a place in which Sri Ram may reign and bring about peace love and prosperity.
The Legend:
Many believed that Diwali is the day on which Sri Ram returned from His 14 years of exile in the forest, after having got rid of various demons that made life hell for the sages and common people. Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and it celebrates the triumphant return of Sri Ram to His Kingdom. People rejoice by burning earthen oil lamps to welcome Sri Ram back to His throne.
Another Legend tells of a story of a Narakasura, a demon, ruled the kingdom of Pradyoshapuram. Under his rule, the villagers suffered a lot of hardship as the demon tortured the people and kidnapped the women to be imprisoned in his palace. Seeing his wickedness, Lord Krishna set out to destroy the demon and the day Narakasura died was celebrated as Diwali, the triumph of good over evil!
"Thamasomaa jyotirgamaya”: lead me from darkness to light.
This means that where there is darkness light is needed.
What is this darkness?
Sorrow
No Peace
Loss
Disappointment
Misery
Lack of enthusiasm
Anger, Lust Greed, Hatred & Jealousy
All these are different forms of darkness.
To get rid of the darkness of sorrow, you have to light the lamp of happiness. To dispel the darkness of disease, you have to install the light of health. To get over the darkness of losses and failures, you have to usher in the light of prosperity.
Diwali is a festival which is designed to celebrate the suppression of the Ego by the Higher Self. Man is plunged in the darkness of ignorance and has lost the power of discrimination between the permanent and the evanescent. When the darkness of ignorance caused by Ahamkara (the ego-feeling) is dispelled by the light of Divine knowledge, the effulgence of the Divine is experienced.
If the darkness of ignorance is to be dispelled, man needs a container, oil, wick and a matchbox corresponding to what an external lamp needs. For man, the heart is the container. The mind is the wick. Love is the oil and sacrifice is the matchbox. When you have these four, Atma-jyothi (the Divine flame of the Spirit) shines effulgently. When the light of the Spirit is a flame, the Light of Knowledge appears and dispels the darkness of ignorance.
The flame of a lamp has two qualities. One is to banish darkness. The other is a continuous upward movement. Even when a lamp is kept in a pit, the flame moves upwards. The sages have therefore adored the lamp of wisdom as the flame that leads men to higher states. Hence, the effulgence of light should not be treated as a trivial phenomenon. Along with lighting the external lamps, men should strive to light the lamps within them. The human estate should be governed by sacred qualities. This calls for the triple purity of body, mind and speech--Trikarana Suddhi (purity of the three instruments).
The inner significance of Diwali is to lead man from darkness to light. Man is perpetually plunged in darkness. Every time he is enveloped in darkness, he should light a lamp that is ever shining within him. Carry that lamp wherever you go. It will light your path wherever you may be.
In Essence Diwali symbolizes the destruction of evil within and the restoration of what is good.
On this Diwali day, resolve to light the lamp of Darkness and place it at your doorstep, and at your lips. Feed it with the oil of devotion; have steadiness as the wick. Let the lamp illumine every minute of your life. The splendor of the Name will drive away darkness from outside you as well as from inside you. You will spread joy and peace among all who come near you.
From Dr.Latchman Hardowar & Family
