5 Days Of Diwali 2022 That You May Want To Know

Hindu mythology accords Diwali, a well-known festival in India, a great deal of spiritual reverence. It is widely observed in our nation and is referred to as the festival of lights.

Every year, the festival, whose name is derived from the Sanskrit word Dipawali, which means “row of lights,” shines brightly in honor of the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

People celebrate Diwali (sometimes spelled Diwali) in different ways throughout the culturally diverse regions of India and throughout the global diaspora, just like so many other cultural and religious holidays.

This festival’s dates are determined by the Hindu lunar calendar, which assigns a month to the length of the moon’s orbit around the Earth. Between the Hindu months of Asvina and Kartika, which usually fall in October or November on the Gregorian calendar, is when Diwali begins.

Diwali will begin on October 24 in 2022, and its most significant festival day will fall on October 25.

Diwali recalls Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom, Ayodhya, after a 14-year exile. Ayodhya residents lit up the city and welcomed Rama, Lakshman, and Sita with fireworks.

This represents the triumph of good over evil, which is why Diwali is also known as the festival of lights. On this day, people worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, who are thought to bring good luck, prosperity, and wealth.

Who commemorates Diwali?

Diwali is a major festival observed by

• Hindus
• Jains
• Sikhs
• Buddhists, particularly Newar Buddhists

What are the other names for Diwali?

In many states, people of various religions celebrate Diwali.

A)  Jains refer to Diwali as Jain Diwali.

B) Diwali is known as Bandi Chhor Divas by Sikhs.

C) People of Nepal, Sikkim and West Bengal refer to Diwali as Tihar and Swanti.

D) Diwali is known as Bandna in Jharkhand.

E) It is known as Deepawali in Tamil Nadu.

What are the Significance of Diwali?

In addition to its enormous popularity and spectacular fireworks displays, Diwali is significant because it represents the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and right over wrong.

Every Diwali festival ritual has a purpose and a version of history to go along with it. It is a moment of great spiritual significance because it represents the shining of our own inner light and the sharing of it with others.

Diyas, candles, and lamps are placed all over the house on this day to “light” the path to wisdom and success. As a sign of respect for the gods who are responsible for the attainment of knowledge, health, wealth, peace, and prosperity, homes are lit up with lights and firecrackers fill the sky.

It is a truly wondrous sight to behold, the whole country bathed in the soft glow of light and warmth emanating from every home.

The lights of Diwali symbolize a time to extinguish all of our evil intentions and fantasies, to banish all shadowy forces, and to give us the vigor and zeal to continue spreading goodwill throughout the rest of the year.

They brighten the energetic path that allows the Light within us to shine. They serve as a reminder of the value of knowledge, the significance of knowing oneself, and the importance of knowing and seeking the good and correct path.

For Light Seekers, Deepavali holds a special significance and value because it only occurs once a year. It’s also thought that the sound of fireworks signals the happiness of earth’s inhabitants and the existence of the abundant Gods.

People are discovering better ways to express their joy, though, because of the impact they have on the environment.

History and Origin of Diwali

Diwali was a harvest festival that was primarily observed by farmers in ancient India. In light of the fact that they would harvest their crops between October and November. Insects that ate the crops and destroyed them posed a serious threat to the farmers.

As a result, the farmers began illuminating diyas to draw and kill insects. This turned out to be quite successful because their crops were kept safe and they could now benefit from a good harvest.

In addition, the Hindu tradition places a high value on the Diwali festival. On this day, after spending 14 years in exile and vanquishing the evil King Ravana, Lord Rama, Maa Sita, and his brother Laxmana arrived back in Ayodhya.

It is said that in celebration of their victorious return, the citizens of Ayodhya planned a large ceremony. Fireworks, diyas, and bright lamps lit up the entire kingdom. The grand welcome that Lord Rama received is credited with inspiring the creation of the Diwali festival.

Diwali is a festival that is commemorated in some parts of India as Lord Krishna’s victory over the evil demon Narakasura. It is said that Lord Krishna freed all the princesses after defeating Narakasura, who had abducted more than 16,000 of them.

Sikhs especially commemorate the sixth guru Hargobind Singh’s freedom from captivity in 1619. Sikhs, however, observed the festival before this day. In fact, the Golden Temple at Amritsar was founded on Diwali in 1577.

Lord Mahavira is credited with founding Jainism. Jains commemorate the moment he attained the state of Moksha during Diwali (nirvana, or eternal bliss).

Nepal’s Newar Buddhists celebrate Diwali by praying to Lakshmi and honor a number of Vajrayana deities.

How is Diwali celebrated?

In the weeks before Diwali, people customarily redecorate their homes, buy new clothes and jewelry, and exchange gifts like sweets, dried fruits, and nuts. Dinner parties, outdoor food festivals, and craft fairs are all popular during this time of year, and they all contribute to the excitement leading up to the main Diwali celebration.

In the weeks leading up to Diwali, card games are played late into the night, and gambling, particularly in north India, is a part of traditional celebrations. At these gatherings, you can expect drinks and a lot of finger food, which typically consists of platters of kebabs, fried savoury snacks, tandoori grills, and spiced sweetmeats.

The five days of Diwali celebration

Diwali, the festival of lights, continues for five days.

1. Dhanteras,
2. Naraka Chaturdasi
3. Lakshmi Puja
4. Govardhan Puja
5. Bhai Dooj

1) Dhanteras:

The first day of Diwali is referred to as Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) which signals the start of the glittering Diwali festivities. According to the Hindu calendar, Dhanteras falls on the 13th lunar day of the Krishna Paksha, the dark quarter of the month of Karthik.

Dhanteras is a special day because it is believed that on this day, Lord Dhanwantari came from the sea with Ayurveda, a medical science, for the benefit of humanity. People celebrate this day by buying new things and worshiping Lord Kubera and Goddess Lakshmi.

People buy gold, silver, clothes, and gadgets as a sign of good luck on this day and in the evening, they worship the god of health and Ayurveda. This day is solely dedicated to the goddess of wealth, and it is also believed that during ‘Amrit-Manthan,’ Goddess Lakshmi emerged with a pot of gold.

On Dhanteras, some communities, particularly those involved in Ayurvedic and health-related professions, pray or perform havan rituals to Dhanvantari. Dhanteras, according to Tracy Pintchman, is a symbol of annual renewal, cleansing, and an auspicious start to the New Year.

As a result, many Hindus clean their homes and businesses on this day. They place diyas, small earthen oil-filled lamps, near Lakshmi and Ganesha iconography, and light them for the next five days.

Women and children decorate doorways in their homes and offices with rangolis, colorful designs made of rice flour, flower petals, colored rice, or colored sand, while boys and men decorate the roofs and walls of family homes, markets, and temples with lights and lanterns.

Hindus bathe and pray for the safety of Yama Raj, the Lord of Death, with a lit deeya, Prasad (sweets offered during worship) at sunset. This sacrifice is made near the Tulsi tree, Holy Basil, or any other sacred tree in the yard.

2) Naraka Chaturdasi:

The second day of Diwali, the14th day of the Kartik month is referred to as Naraka Chaturdasi, Chhoti Diwali, Minor Diwali, Kali Chaudas Hanuman Puja, Roop Chaudas, and Yama Deepam. According to Hindu mythology and tradition, Lord Krishna fought and killed the demon Narakasura, thus liberating the world from terror.

The day and its rituals are seen as a means of releasing any souls imprisoned in “Naraka,” or hell, and as a reminder of spiritual auspiciousness. For some Hindus, it is a day to pray for the peace of one’s ancestors’ manes, or defiled souls, and to light their path in the cyclic afterlife.

On this day, most of the People get up early in the morning and take a bath with natural oils and herbal mixtures before changing into clean clothes. It is believed that the body should be massaged with oil to relieve fatigue, bathed, and rested in order to celebrate Diwali with vigour and pity.

Further, it is also said that you should not light diyas or leave your home on this day. In modern times, however, people visit each other on Choti Diwali to wish each other a “happy, successful Diwali” and exchange gifts and sweets.

Naraka Chaturdashi is also a big day for buying festive foods, especially sweets. Flour, semolina, rice, chickpea flour, dry fruit powders or paste, milk solids (mawa or khoya), and clarified butter are used to make a variety of sweets (ghee).

According to Goldstein, these are then shaped into laddus, barfis, halwa, kachoris, shrikhand, and sandesh, as well as rolled and stuffed delicacies like karanji, shankarpali, maladu, susiyam, and pottukadalai. These are sometimes wrapped in edible silver foil.

Hanuman Puja is performed on the second day of Diwali in some parts of India, particularly in Gujarat. It falls on the day of Kali Chaudas. On the night of Kali Chaudas, it is believed that spirits roam around, and Hanuman, the deity of strength, power, and protection, is worshipped to seek protection from the spirits.

Diwali is also celebrated to commemorate Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon-king Ravana and ending his fourteen-year exile. Hanuman’s devotion and dedication so pleased Rama that he blessed Hanuman to be worshipped before him. As a result, the day before Diwali’s main day, people worship Hanuman.

Yama Deepam (also known as Yama Dipadana or Jam ke Diya) is observed by some Hindus on the second day of Diwali rather than the first. A diya filled with sesame oil is lit in the backyard of their homes, facing south. This is done for pleasing Yama, the god of death, and to prevent premature death.

This day is celebrated differently in different parts of the world, but many people will stay at home and exchange sweets with friends and family. They may also use rangolis to decorate their floors, which are intricate patterns made of colored powder, rice, and flowers.

3) Lakshmi Puja:

The main Diwali celebration takes place on this day. On this day Lord Rama returns to Ayodhya after killing Ravana. People welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, who is believed to bestow luck and prosperity on those who worship her. On this auspicious day, Lord Ganesha is also worshiped.

Hindus purify themselves and gather with their families and Pandits (priests) to worship the Divine Goddess Lakshmi for the blessings of prosperity and wealth, the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.

The floor is decorated, and the entire house is lit up with diyas, candles, and lights. Families exchange gifts and sweets and share laughter, joy, and prayers as they celebrate the evening.

How can you perform Lakshmi puja at home?

If you want to perform Lakshmi puja at home this Diwali, you can follow the following instructions:

A) Puja preparation

The first and foremost thing is to thoroughly clean and decorate the house before beginning of the puja. Sprinkle Ganga water all over the house and on all family members as part of the purification ritual before beginning the puja procedure.

B) Set up the puja altar

After decorating the house, create a platform on which the puja will be performed. Then spread a red cloth over the platform and sprinkle it with grains. Make a lotus out of turmeric powder and place an image or idol of the goddesses Lakshmi and Ganesh on it.

C) Preparing the kalash

After setting up the puja altar, fill a copper pot with 3/4 of an inch of water, then add coins, betel nuts, raisins, cloves, dry fruits, and cardamom. A coconut should be positioned in the center of a circle of mango leaves on top of the pot. Place the Kalash on the puja altar and embellish it with flowers and vermillion.

D) The idols’ holy bath

The idols must be bathed in panchamrit, rosewater, sandalwood water, and pure water. Then, vermillion, sandal paste, and turmeric powder are to be used to embellish them. After that, wreaths and flowers are placed around the idols.

On the kalash, keep a small Puja thali. After that create a small flat mountain of rice grains. Draw a lotus with haldi over it and center the idol or Goddess Lakshmi. Put a few coins in front of it.

In every puja, Lord Ganesha is given top priority. As a result, place the Ganesha idol on the right side (South-West direction) of the kalash. After that, apply a haldi and kumkum tilak. Place some rice grains on top of the idol. To obtain Lord Ganesha’s blessings, light a Diya with Ganapati Puja Oil and White Madar Wick.

E) The puja

An offering to Ganesh precedes an offering to Lakshmi in the Lakshmi puja. Badasha, laddoos, betel leaves and nuts, dry fruits, coconut, sweets, dishes cooked in the home’s kitchen, and some coins are common offerings. Flowers are offered and lamps and incense sticks are lit while the mantra is chanted.

F) Read Lakshmi’s story

The story of the goddess Lakshmi, also known as Lakshmi’s Panchali, is recited by an elderly family member while the rest of the family listens intently. At the ending of the story, flowers and sweets are presented to the idol of the goddess.

G) Puja aarti

The puja is concluded by singing the aarti song and waving the camphor light in front of the deity. The goddess is then prayed to for prosperity and wealth, and sweets are consumed as Prasad.

4) Govardhan Puja

The first day of the bright fortnight of the luni-solar calendar is the day after Diwali. Regional names include Annakut (grain heap), Padwa, Goverdhan puja, Bali Pratipada, Bali Padyami, Kartik Shukla Pratipada, and others.

It is dedicated to Lord Krishna, according to the mythological story. People believe that Lord Krishna saved the people of Mathura from Lord Indra by lifting the mountain known as ‘Govardhan.’

People make miniature Govardhans out of clay and cow dung and worship them. The ritual use of cow dung, a common fertiliser, is an agricultural motif and a celebration of its significance to annual crop cycles, according to Kinsley.

Many Hindus observe the agricultural symbolism on this day which is referred to as Annakut that is literally “mountain of food.” Over a hundred dishes are prepared by communities using a variety of ingredients and then dedicated to Krishna before being shared with the community.

Hindu temples prepare “mountains of sweets” on this day to give to the devoted who have gathered for darshan (visit). Annakut is the first day of the new year in Gujarat (referred to as Bestu Varas), and it is celebrated by purchasing necessities, or sabras (literally, “good things in life”), such as salt, praying to Krishna, and visiting temples.

The day is associated with the story of Bali’s defeat at the hands of Vishnu, according to one tradition. Another interpretation is that it refers to the legend of Parvati and her husband Shiva playing dyuta (dice) on a board with twelve squares and thirty pieces, and Parvati winning.

Shiva gives her his shirt and adornments, stripping him naked. As per the Handelman and Shulman, as quoted by Pintchman, this legend is a Hindu metaphor for the cosmic process of world creation and dissolution through the masculine destructive power, represented by Shiva, and the feminine procreative power, represented by Parvati, where twelve represents the number of months in the cyclic year and thirty represents the number of days in the lunisolar month.

This day ritually celebrates the bond between the wife and husband, and in some Hindu communities, husbands will mark the occasion by giving gifts to their wives. In other parts of the world, parents invite their newly married daughter or son, along with their spouses, to a festive meal and give them gifts.

In Northern Indian states, this day is commonly celebrated as Govardhan Puja and Vishwakarma. People worship their instruments, arms, and equipment. As a result, most or all businesses are closed on this day.

5) Bhai Dooj

The last day is known as Bhai Dooj or Bhau Beej. It is known as Bhai Phonta in the east. It is similar to Rakshabandhan and it is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha of the lunar calendar.

Some believe that this festive day represents Yama’s (Yamraj, the Lord of Death) sister Yamuna welcoming Yama with a tilaka. He bestowed a Vardhan (a boon) on his sister, promising that anyone who visited her that day would be cleansed of all sins and achieve moksha, or ultimate liberation. Another story has Krishna arriving at his sister Subhadra’s house after defeating Narakasura. Subhadra greets him with a tilaka on his brow.

This is a day for siblings to get together and express their affection for one another. Sisters apply a tilak to their brothers’ foreheads on Bhai Dooj and pray for a long and happy life. On this occasion, sisters also prepare a lavish feast for their brothers. On this auspicious occasion, siblings gather and exchange gifts, sweets, and blessings, signaling the end of a five-day celebration of joy, lights, and radiance.

On this day, the five-day Diwali celebrations come to an end.