Diwali FAQ’S
Diwali, a.k.a Deepavali is a major Indian festival spread over 5 days that is very significant in Hinduism known as the "Festival of Lights," it symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and lamps (diyas) are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for humankind.
Many have requested us to compile a FAQ article like the one on Pitr Paksha. We hope that this article will answer many of your questions. These are some of the questions that people emailed me.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF DIWALI?
Diwali, a.k.a Deepavali is a major Indian festival spread over 5 days that is very significant in Hinduism known as the "Festival of Lights," it symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and lamps (diyas) are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for humankind. "Regardless of the explanations one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple — and some not so simple — joys of life."
HOW DO PEOPLE CELEBRATE DIWALI?
After you have taken a bath early in the morning and wearing clean clothes go to your prayer place and offer incense, lamp and flowers (all seven times in a clockwise around the picture of Shree Sita-Raam. After that all the food that has been prepared should be offered first to Shree Sita-Raam. Leave the unoffered food before Their Lordships to bless and after about 10 minutes remove from the prayer place and then that prashad (blessed food) is for all to eat. As this is a day of rejoicement, many will have very elaborate breakfasts and lunches and meet family and friends. Many distribute sweets and cakes and the like to their friends and family. In the evening, lamps are again lit and Mother Lakshmi is worshipped and offered special dishes. This being a no moon day (New moon/Amavasya), many will offer tarpana (offerings of water and sesame seeds) to their ancestors. This is from the Garuda Purana. Like Christmas in the West, Diwali is very much a time for buying and exchanging gifts.
WHEN IS DIWALI THIS YEAR?
Diwali-Amavasya (17/18th October): The actual day of Diwali, is celebrated on the third day of the festival, when the moon completely wanes and total darkness sets in the night sky. ***There always seem to be some conflicting festival dates whenever the Hindu calendars are published… I don’t want to cause any more confusion and thus although previously I have stated that Diwali is on the 18th October this year just not to cause even more controversy I have altered it to the 17th October. Let me explain why. Vedic times are totally different from the Gregorian times, which are followed by the westerners. The Vedic day starts at sunrise and ends sunrise the next morning. But the Gregorian day starts at midnight and ends the following midnight. Now Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day (Amavasya) of the dark moon in October. This year the 15th day (Amavasya) starts at 09h07 on the 17th of October and ends the following morning of the 18th of October at 07h33. The sunrise time for Durban on the 17th October is 05h16 and the 18th October at 05h15. According to the Vedic calendar whichever tithi (day) is transiting at the time of sunrise is the tithi (day). So on the 17th of October at 05h16 (sunrise) Chaturdasi (i.e. the 14th day) is transiting. So the ruling day for the 17th is Naraka Chaturdasi. But soon after that Naraka Chaturdasi ends at 09h06 and Amavasya (Diwali starts). But as I have mentioned that the 17th is ruled by Chaturdasi even though it ended a short while after sunrise. Then Diwali continues until the next morning 07h33. So Amavasya transits the sunrise of the 18th and thus this day becomes Diwali Amavasya. But soon after sunrise of the 18th Diwali ends at 07h33. This is the reason why so many calendars state that Diwali should be on the 17th of October because most the New Moon (Amavasya) is on the 17th. But strictly speaking it’s on the 18th.
HOW LONG DOES DIWALI LAST FOR THIS YEAR?
This year Deepavali is celebrated over a period of 5 days beginning from the 16th October to the 20th October. I have been reading in the papers saying that the Diwali is on the 17th October. Well this is correct to a certain point as Diwali falls over 5 days. So one should now know that one is free to observe Diwali on any of the 5 days depending on which of the significance one attaches to it, or one may observe all five days.
WHY IS DIWALI CALLED THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS?
The Deepavali lights represent the time when Shree Raam came back from the forest after His exile, and all in Ayodhya lit lamps to welcome their most beloved Lord back home after fourteen years. Many do believe that when the lamps are lit this helps Mother Lakshmi find her way into people's homes. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional dipa or deeya (earthen lamp).
CAN MEAT BE EATEN DURING DIWALI?
NO not all. This shouldn’t be an issue as humans are meant to be vegetarian…
IS THIS A GOOD TIME FOR NEW VENTURES?
Yes there are no scripture injunctions saying that new ventures cannot be started in this period.
WHY DO WE LIGHT THE YAMA DEEP DAAN ONE NIGHT BEFORE DIWALI?
Dhanteras is also known as Yamadeepdaan and lamps are kept burning through the night in reverential adoration to Lord Yamaraj (the Lord Of Death) - and prayers offered to him to keep away death and despair. A very interesting Katha/story about this day is attached to the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his janma-kundali (birth horoscope) he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that fateful fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's palatial room and lighted infinite numbers of lamps all over the place. After all these, she went on telling stories and singing songs so that her husband is not able to sleep. When Shree Yamaraj, arrived there appearing in form of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by the dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "Yama-deepa-daan" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in remembering Lord Yamaraj, the presiding deity of Death. Thirteen lamps made of wheat flour or clay lamps and lit with oil are placed outside the house, facing southwards (the direction of Lord Yamaraja’s abode), in the evening. A lamp is never kept facing southwards except on this day. Then, reciting the following mantra one should offer obeisance: "I offer these thirteen lamps to the son (Lord Yama) of the Sun deity (Surya), so that He liberates me from the clutches of death and bestows His blessings upon me."
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERES A DEATH IN THE HOME THAT YEAR, CAN ONE STILL CELEBRATE DIWALI?
Many are under the belief that because the deceased is still travelling for a year that’s out of respect they don’t perform any prayers. This can’t be further from the truth. After 12th /13th days puja you can perform prayers. Life carries on and prayers should not stop after a person dies. Actually the more prayers you perform the better for the deceased. But let’s just rewind a bit and see what our sastras the Garuda Purana say. In the previous ages the sapindi-daan was performed on 1 year after death. Now the thing with the sapindi puja is that until this prayer is performed you cannot do practically anything. You are stuck basically at home. You cannot go to prayers, weddings, you yourself cannot perform any prayers at home etc… but in this age of Kali the Sapindi Puja is performed on the 12-13th day. Thus after this prayers is performed, normal pujas are commenced. So you can read from the above that maybe this is where the whole story that you cannot do anything for year stems from. Sometimes I do feel that this is an excuse not to perform any prayers for a year. If this is the case then they must not have any salt food for the year, they must not eat meat for the year and not do anything in that one year… now this changes everything doesn’t it… try to tell a Hindu stay away from meat for a year and that will cause a raucous. So Diwali should be celebrated even if there is a death in the family.
IF THERES A DEATH IN THE FAMILY THAT YEAR DOES ONE STAY IN DARKNESS OR YOU LITE DIYAS TO BRING THAT LITE
You continue with your Diwali celebrations… lighting a lamp brings forth light and dispels darkness…
WHO ELSE OBSERVES DIWALI… HOW MANY OTHER RELIGIONS?
Just Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism that I am aware of but I am sure that other religions have an offshoot version of this celebration.
HOW DO LIGHT OUR FIRST DIYA?
Light the first lamp one at your prayer place and pray to Mother Lakshmi and then from this one light the other lamps.
WHO DO WE PRAY FOR?
This is a time when Shree Sita-Raam returned from exile. Thus many worship Shree Sita-Raam but you can worship any form that you consider attracted to. But also many perform Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja on this day.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE OIL BATH?
This is a cleansing and purification ritual.
IS IT TRUE THAT SHREE RAAM WAS EXILED FROM AYODHYA TO GO TO THE JUNGLE FOR 14 YEARS?
Yes this is correct. This is confirmed in the Ramayan. For the full katha do read the Ramayan. To download the Valmiki Ramayan plz visit this website… http://www.valmikiramayan.net/
ARE WE ALLOWED TO PERFORM HAWAN DURING DIWALI?
Yes this is most auspicious but offering food and water to ones ancestors is most auspicious as confirmed by the Garuda Purana.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF SENDING SWEETS, CAKES AND GOODIES TO NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES?
This is performed to encourage love, harmony, peacefulness and brother/sisterhood amongst people. Our beautiful culture always encourages to perform charity and keeping up with this tradition we send sweets and the like to our beloved ones…
CAN THE DIYA ONE FIRST LIGHTS ON DIWALI NIGHT BE KEPT REFILLING FOR THE ENTIRE NIGHT?
Yes this can be done.
WHATS THE MEANING OF RANGOLI?
Rangoli is one of the most popular art forms in India. It is a form of sandpainting decoration that uses finely ground white powder and colours, and is used commonly outside homes in India. Rangoli can be wall art as well as floor art. The term rangoli is derived from words rang (colour) and aavalli ('coloured creepers' or 'row of colours').
WHY DO WE USE NEW CLOTHES ON DIWALI?
There are lots different traditions and people all have their unique way to celebrate Diwali. Many wear new clothes to signify a new beginning.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FIREWORKS?
Fireworks represent the happiness of good defeating evil. It is said that when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, the people were overjoyed to see him along with Sita and Lakshman. Since it was a no moon night, people lit up candles and diyas along Lord Rama’s path. Once he reached his abode, there was also dazzling display of lights which lit up the night sky and left everyone mesmerized. Everybody sang, and danced in celebration and welcomed their king with open arms and hearts. Since then, each year that day came to be celebrated as Diwali, and the Diwali lights became its most conspicuous feature.
PLEASE TELL ME SOMETHING ON THE DIWALI KAJOL OF THE EYE?
This is something that done due to tradition. Traditionally it’s used on the eye and as a dot on the forehead by unmarried girls to keep at bay the “evil eye” but medically kaajal is good for eye. It is apply at margin of eyelids, which stimulates the excretion of tear and help in lubricating and opening of duct of lids gland. Kaajal also use for good looking of the eye. Kaajal should be use at that place where dusty atmosphere is present.
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