DEEPAVALI, DIWALI AND DIPAVALI

HAPPY  DEEPAVALI

Diwali, Deepavali or Dipavali is the Hindu festival of lights, which is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere).One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance".During the celebration, temples, homes, shops and office buildings are brightly illuminated.The preparations, and rituals, for the festival typically last five days, with the climax occurring on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, the festival generally falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Diwali, one of the most prominent festivals celebrated in India, indicates the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil. This year it will be celebrated on October 27.

The festival of lights is observed on the day of ‘Amavasya’ or new moon, the 15th day of Kartik, according to the Hindi calendar. Starting at the end of the cropping season, it is often associated with wealth and happiness.

History of Diwali and Deepavali 

According to mythology, Diwali has been referred to as Deepapratipadutsava in the seventh century Sanskrit play Nagananda, in which newlywed couples were gifted lamps and other things in remembrance of Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi’s marriage.

                                                                                           It has been referred to as Dipamalika in the ninth century work of the poet Rajashekhar, where traditions of homes being cleaned and decorated with lights are mentioned. There is also mention of the festival in Persian traveller and historian Al- Biruni’s 11th century memoir on India.
        
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Today, many celebrate it in remembrance of the return of Lord Rama and Sita after 14 years of exile, while others honour the return of Pandavas after 12 years of vanvas and year of agyatvas.

The festival, according to a popular legend, is also associated with the story of Yama and Nachiketa on Kartika amavasya — one that narrates the tale of true wealth, knowledge and right versus wrong.It is also one of the reasons why Diwali is celebrated as the festival of prosperity, wisdom and light.