" Deepawali: Festival of Light"

 "Deepawali : The Festival of Light's!🎆🎁

What is true meaning of Deepawali ?

The time of Deepawali is one of the most festive and beautiful times of the year. Deepavali literally means a row of Lights.

It is a time filled with light and love; a time when Indians all over the world rejoice. It is the darkest night of the darkest period, yet it is a celebration of light! Diwali is heralded as the triumph of good over evil.

The meaning of Diwali, its symbols and rituals, and the reasons for celebration are innumerable.

In a true testament to unity in diversity, Diwali is celebrated quite differently across India. One thing that remains common is that every village, town and city is lit up with thousands of lamps everywhere. This lighting of lamps symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

Diwali always starts with a thorough cleaning and decoration of the home. This is also a time to make traditional rangolis. People visit each other, dress up resplendently, exchange gifts, conduct rituals and poojas and come together to enjoy feasts and burst firecrackers.

In northern India, Diwali is seen as a celebration of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years in the forest. On this moonless night, people are said to have welcomed him home by lighting thousands of lamps in his honor.

In western parts of India, Diwali is considered the beginning of a new year and the central theme is worshipping Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

In eastern parts of the country, the day of Diwali is devoted to Kali and is celebrated as Kali Puja.

In southern India, Diwali is celebrated because on this day, Krishna slew the demon Narakasura. As most stories in the Yogic lore, this is also a dialectical way to communicate a significant aspect of the spiritual process to the masses through a culturally relevant expression. The word “Naraka” literally means “hell.” Sadhguru explains that Narakasura was not his original name, but a title he earned by creating a lot of unpleasantness within and around himself. Krishna’s slaying of this hellish being symbolizes the innate ability in every human being to overcome negativity and rise to new possibilities.

It is also celebrated as the day Bhagwan Vishnu married Maha Lakshmi. Deepawali is also associated with the story of the fall of Bali – a demon king who was defeated by Lord Vishnu. 

In general, Deepawali signifies the triumph of good over evil, of righteousness over treachery, of truth over falsehood, and of light over darkness.

A glorious pictures of Bank of Saryu river in Ayodhya on the eve's of Deepawali celebration. 

If you want to experience an enthralling joy and happiness of Diwali then you must visit Ayodhya once in your lifetime during this epic festival.

The banks of the Saryu river bank in Ayodhya were lit up by 9 lakh diyas on Diwali eve, helping Uttar Pradesh break its own record of lighting 5,84,372 earthen lamps in 2020.
 The feat has earned it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ayodhya : Prabhu Shri Ram Janmbhoomi

However, Deepawali is not a festival of lights in order that we may burn candles, fireworks and sparklers. Sure, these are wonderful ways of expressing our gaiety. But, it is not the only or true meaning of ‘light’. 

Deepawali is a festival of the light which dispels the darkness of our ignorance; it is a festival of the light which shows us the way on our journey through life. The purpose is not to glorify the light of the candle or the firecracker. The purpose is to glorify the light of God. It is He who bestows the real light, the everlasting light upon the darkness of this mundane world. A candle burns out. A fire work is a momentary visual experience. But, the candle of a still mind and the fireworks of a heart filled with bhakti are divine and eternal; these are what we should be celebrating.

We decorate our homes with lanterns; but what is the symbolism behind that? Those lanterns signify God’s light, penetrating through the ignorance and sin of our daily lives. They signify the divine light, shining its way through this mundane world. A home bathed in light is a home in which anger, pain and ignorance are being dispelled; it is a home that is calling to God. However, too many people turn this into a domestic beauty contest, spending days and a great deal of money to purchase the newest diyas, the most beautiful candles. This is only the light of glamour. It is not the light of God.

The light of Deepawali should be within us. It should symbolise the personal relationship between God and our families. Let the light penetrate inward, for only there will it have lasting benefit. A piece of cotton soaked in ghee, lit with a pure heart, a conscious mind and a desire to be free from ignorance is far “brighter” than 100 expensive deepaks.

May this festival brings light, harmony and prosperity into our lives usher in a new enthusiasm to make our lives more fulfilling and bring happiness to everyone.

Wishing you and your loved ones happy and prosperous Deepawali!!🎊

-Love ❣️

Gaurav S Patil