by Anika Ajgaonkar and Adwaith Hariharan
Colorful lit diyas (oil lamps) arranged in a circle. Credit: Shutterstock
Diwali, or Deepavali, is a festival of lights. The word itself is derived from the Sanskrit words deepa, meaning “light,” and vali, meaning “garland.” Essentially, it means the row of lamps or a garland of lamps. Diwali symbolizes positivity, and the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
It is celebrated across the world’s Hindu, Jain, and Sikh community. However, the celebrations vary slightly based on where in India it’s being celebrated. Hindus celebrate Diwali to commemorate the homecoming of the victorious Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana or the birth of Goddess Lakshmi. It falls on the new-moon day, called Amavasya, of the lunar month Karthik (which typically falls sometime between mid-October and mid-November). For some people in India, Diwali also signifies the beginning of a new year.
The Five Days of Diwali
The first day of Diwali celebrations, called Dhanteras, is a day when people usually purchase gold and silver clothes and utensils, which signify good luck, wealth, and fortune. Additionally, people begin to clean and decorate their homes. This day is considered auspicious, as it is said to signify the beginning of great prosperity, health, and wealth.
The next day is called Choti Diwali, also known as Naraka Chaturdashi or Minor Diwali. This day signifies the victory of Goddess Kali over the demon Narakasura. This day begins early in the morning, with people applying oils on themselves before taking a bath. It is believed that applying the oils removes sins and impurities. New clothes are worn, and a small pooja is held.
Now arrives the main Diwali holiday, the third and most important day of celebrations. A pooja for Goddess Lakshmi is held, as the people believe she enters the homes of the people and blesses them with good prosperity, luck, health, wealth, and happiness. People across the country wear new, traditional clothes, and prepare a variety of foods and delicacies, which are strictly vegetarian. In the evening, celebrations continue with the lighting of lamps and firecrackers, which are believed to keep evil spirits away.
After the main day, Govardhan Puja is observed. It marks the day when Lord Krishna triumphed over Indra by hoisting the Govardhan Mountain. To celebrate this occasion, the devotees of Lord Krishna offer food and delicacies as gratitude for his blessings. Additionally, a small mound of cow dung is made and worshiped, as it is symbolic of the Govardhan Mountain. In other parts of India, the fourth day of Diwali is known as Balipratipada, relating to an entirely different story when the demon king, Bali, was defeated by the 5th avatar of the Supreme God, Vishnu after having conquered the other demigods. According to Hindu scripture, Bali asked Vishnu for the boon that he be able to return to Earth annually to be worshipped and remembered, which was granted. Some people traditionally celebrate Balipratipada by exchanging gifts, wearing new clothes, and worshipping Bali and/or the avatars of Vishnu.
Diwali finally culminates on Bhai Dhooj, a day revolving around brother-sister bonds. Sisters usually invite their brothers and offer them a lavish meal, praying for a long and happy life for them. The brothers return the favor by giving their sisters gifts and ensuring their wellbeing.
Religious Significance
Diwali holds a special place in the hearts of people from multiple religions. In Hinduism, Diwali is said to originate from the Ramayana, one of the most famous and beloved Hindu epics. In this lengthy Sanskrit epic poem of 24,000 verses, the Ramayana details the legend of Rama, the epic’s hero, who is the prince of the ancient Indian kingdom Ayodhya. When his stepmother enacts a plan to force him into exile, Rama, along with his younger brother Lakshmana and wife Sita, leave Ayodhya and live in the forest for 14 years. A demon king named Ravana kidnaps Sita, setting off a chain of events in which Rama ultimately slays Ravana, rescues his wife, and is finally able to return to his kingdom. When the citizens of Ayodhya hear their cherished prince is coming home, they make lavish preparations to welcome him. However, the night of his return is a new moon, and would be inauspiciously dark. Not to be discouraged, the citizens take the responsibility of illuminating the entire kingdom themselves. They light oil lamps, called diyas, in every corner of Ayodhya so that it is bright enough to show the happiness and joy everyone in the kingdom feels at Rama’s return and illuminate his path home.
In Jainism, the soul of the 24th Tirthankara (a savior and spiritual teacher of dharma), Mahavira, was liberated on Diwali. After his passing, he achieved moksha, or freedom from the cycle of death and birth. Tradition states that the main disciple of Mahavira, Gandhara Gautaum Swami, also attained omniscience (absolute knowledge) on this day. The Jain celebration of Diwali both of these, making it one of the most important Jain festivals. According to scripture, Mahavira attained moksha on the dawn of the new moon night, but many gods were in attendance to provide light. The night after, there were neither gods nor the moon to illuminate the darkness. To ensure the light of Mahavira’s knowledge continued to shine brightly, the kings of several Jain monastic orders illuminated their own doors. Diwali also marks the end of the Jain calendar and the arrival of a new year.
In Sikhism, Diwali celebrates the release of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, and 52 princes, from prison in 1619. Also called Bandi Chhor Divas (literally “Prisoner Release Day”), this day is vital to Sikhs for the story behind it. The Mughal King, Jahangir, had imprisoned 52 princes and Guru Hargobind in his kingdom. He was persuaded into releasing Guru Hargobind alone, but the latter refused to leave unless the 52 other imprisoned princes were released as well. Jahangir agreed, but on a condition: only as many princes that could hold onto the tail of Guru Hargobind’s robe would be allowed to be released with him. With this stipulation, Jahangir thought to minimize the number of princes who would be freed. However, not to be outwitted, Guru Hargobind commissioned the creation of a robe that had 52 separate tails, one for each prisoner. With this, Guru Hargobind and all the imprisoned princes were able to leave, giving this day its name. The guru returned to his followers on the day of Diwali, which is why many Sikhs and Hindus celebrate both festivals together.
Guru Hargobind is released along with the 52 imprisoned princes holding onto the tails of his robe. Credit: Unknown
In Recent Years
In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) commemorated Diwali by releasing a Forever Stamp in honor of the holiday. The stamp features an image of a lit diya on a gold background with scattered rose petals. It joined the ranks of other holiday stamps, such as those for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid, and Lunar New Year.
In more recent news, a federal bill was introduced to Congress that could possibly make Diwali a federal holiday. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, along with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, announced the introduction of the Deepavali Day Act on the evening of November 4, 2021, at the Rayburn House Office building on Capitol Hill. That day was (by no coincidence) the day Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs all over the world celebrated the Festival of Lights. If the legislation is passed, it would make Diwali the 12th federal holiday in the US and honor both the festival and contributions of the approximately 4 million strong Indian-American population.
Maloney reflected on how the celebration of Diwali had special significance considering America’s emergence from the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Celebrations like Diwali speak to the core of what we all desire for our nation to be a beacon of happiness, healing, learning and light and uncertain times. My colleagues, Indian-American community leaders and I believe that there is no better time to enshrine Diwali as a federal holiday than in the wake of this terrible dark pandemic,” Maloney said in her speech.
Conclusion
Diwali is a beloved holiday for Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs around the world. With millennia of rich traditions and history, it has been and continues to be a celebration of great religious and cultural significance. Its impact has spread far beyond India, and diyas and firecrackers are now lit across the globe wherever Indian immigrants have made a new home for themselves. The festival’s themes of the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance resonate universally, and its legacy will forever touch the hearts of those who celebrate it. From The Helix to all those who celebrate, Shubh Deepavali!
Sources
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