Diwali or Deepavali, the ‘festival of light’
signifies the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over
ignorance. India, being a diverse multi-cultural country, has varied
interpretations of Diwali. Though the history, rituals and deities may vary as
we move across the country, but the essence of the festival remains the same.
The festival of lights is emblematic of the elimination of spiritual darkness.
Diwali is the occasion to let the light of God, enter our hearts and minds
while eliminating all the ignorance and unpleasantness within. So, enrich your
knowledge by learning some interesting facts about the ‘festival of lights’,
Diwali given herein.
Interesting Facts & Trivia About Diwali :
- Diwali
is the largest and most famous holiday celebrated in India. It marks the
Hindu New Year. - In
Northern India, with the diminishing use of Sanskrit, the word ‘Deepavali’
got contracted to Diwali. - Diwali
is generally associated with the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu
Goddess of wealth and prosperity. - Diwali
is celebrated over a period of five days beginning in late Ashwin and
ending in early Kartik. - In
South India, Diwali is referred to as ‘Deepavali’ while Narakasura Vadha
is the main celebration day. - In
Hinduism, Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama after a 14
year exile according to North Indian traditions but down south, the death
of the evil Narakasura at the hands of Lord Krishna is the main reason
behind celebrating Diwali. - In
Malaysia, Diwali is celebrated as ‘Hari Diwali’ in the month of Aswayuja.
It is a national public holiday in Malaysia. - Diwali
is also celebrated in Nepal and is referred to as ‘Tihar’ or ‘Swanti’. On
the fourth day, the Hindu God of death, Yama is worshipped for a longer
life of the people. - Diwali
is celebrated as ‘Kali Puja’ in West Bengal by worshipping Goddess Kali. - Diwali
is one of the oldest rituals for Kashmiri Pundits. There is mention of
Diwali celebrations in the Nilmat Puran, and is referred to as ‘Sukhssuptika’
which literally means ‘to sleep with happiness’. - Diwali
celebrations in Orissa have a unique traditional practice of calling upon
the spirits of their dead ancestors. They burn jute stems to shed light on
the dark path of the spirits on their way to heaven. - Gambling
during Diwali is believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the year
ahead. - Diwali
marks the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter. Farmers thank
the deities for the harvest they had and pray for a prosperous harvesting
season in the upcoming year. - Diwali
is also a significant festival for the Sikhs since 1577 as the foundation
stone of the Golden Temple was laid on the day of Diwali. - The
business community celebrates Diwali by opening new accounting books.
Diwali marks the beginning of the new financial year; hence, traders and
businessman start it by offering prayers to Lord Ganesha. - Lord
Mahavira attained his Moksha or Nirvana on the day of Diwali, and so the
Jain community in India celebrates the next day of Diwali as New Year’s
Day. - “Shubh
Deepavali” is a customary greeting associated with Diwali, which literally
means “Have an auspicious Diwali”.
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