India is a land of festivals. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is
celebrated with fervor and gaiety. The festival is celebrated by young
and old, rich and poor, throughout the country to dispel darkness and
light up their lives. The festival symbolizes unity in diversity as
every state celebrates it in its own special way.
The celebration
of the four-day festival commences on Aswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi and
concludes on Kartika Shudda Vijiya. The first day of the festival Naraka
Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna
and his wife Satyabhama.
Puranas have it that Naraka, son of
Bhudevi, acquired immense power from a blessing given by Lord Brahma
after a severe penance. He soon unleashed a reign of terror in the
kingdom of Kamarupa, harassing celestial beings with his invincible
might. Unable to bear the tyranny of the demon, the celestial beings
pleaded with Lord Krishna to save them from his torture.
But
Naraka could not be easily killed as he had a boon that he would face
death only at the hands of his mother Bhudevi. So, Krishna asks his wife
Satyabhama, the reincarnation of Bhudevi, to be his charioteer in the
battle with Naraka.
When Krishna feigns unconsciousness after
being hit by an arrow of Naraka, Satyabhama takes the bow and aims the
arrow at Naraka, killing him instantly. Later Lord Krishna reminds her
of the boon she had sought as Bhudevi. The slaying of Naraka by
Sathyabhama could also be taken to interpret that parents should not
hesitate to punish their children when they stray on to the wrong path.
The message of Naraka Chaturdasi is that the good of the society should
always prevail over ones own personal bonds.
The second day is
Amavasya when Lakshmi puja is performed. It is believed that on this day
Goddess Lakshmi would be in her benevolent mood and fulfill the wishes
of her devotees. One version says that it was on this day that Goddess
Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagara (Ocean of Milk) when the Gods and
demons were churning the sagara (ocean) for nectar (Amrit)
The
other version is that when Lord Vishnu in the guise of Vamana, sought
three feet of land from the generous demon king Bali, the latter had to
surrender his head as Vamana had conquered the earth and the sky in two
strides. Lord Vishnu banishes Bali into the Pathala Loka (netherland) by
keeping his third stride on Balis head. Later, pleased by his
generosity, Lord Vishnu grants him a boon and he in turn requests the
Lord to guard his palace at Pathala Loka.
Meanwhile, the Goddess
is unable to bear the separation and her grief affects the functioning
of the entire universe. Brahma and Lord Shiva offer themselves as guards
and plead with Bali to relieve Vishnu. So, on the Amavasya day, Lord
Vishnu returns to his abode and Goddess Lakshmi is delighted. It is
believed that those who worship Goddess Lakshmi on this day would be
bestowed with all the riches.
The third day is "Kartika Shudda
Padyami." On this day Bali would come out of Pathala Loka and rule
Bhuloka as per the boon given by Lord Vishnu. Hence, it is also known as
"Bali Padyami".
The fourth day is referred to as "Yama Dvitiya." On this day, sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
However,
in the northern part of India it is celebrated as the return of Ram
along with Sita and Lakshman from his 14 years of exile after killing
Ravana. To commemorate his return to Ayodhya, his subjects illuminated
the kingdom and burst crackers. For the Gujaratis, Marwaris and other
business community Diwali marks the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and also
the beginning of the new financial year.
Hindus and is celebrated
for five continuous days. Third day is the main day of Diwali and is
celebrated as the Festival of Lights. To mark this day people light
diyas and candles all around their house. During the evening Lakshmi
Puja is performed to seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth. People
also exchange Diwali Gifts with all their dear ones and burst fire
crackers in the night to express their happiness.
