Meaning of Diwali

Diwali, Deepawali, or Deepawali is the festival of lights: Deep means “Light- Clay Lamps” and Awali means “a row” that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. It is indeed the most-awaited and the most celebrated festival in India.

Diwali – The Victory of Light Over Darkness

Most of the people all around India are eagerly waiting as it is about to arrive soon and the excitement can be seen clearly. Indians who are staying in places like Australia, Nepal, Mauritius, United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, and Malaysia also celebrate this festival with equal excitement.

This festival always comes in the month of Karthika, as per the lunar cycles. On the thirteenth day which is called Trayodashi, the thirteenth day of the “Karthika” month is the festival, which is considered as the most serene months according to the Hindu Lunar calendar.

This wonderful festival of lights, energy, and positivity is celebrated for five days. Right from the third day onwards, the key rituals of Diwali come into place.

The lighting of Diyas and candles all around the house, Making Rangoli designs, worshipping Lakshmi, Krishna, Saraswati, Lord Mahavira, Guru Hargobind Ji to summon health, wealth, knowledge, power, happiness and bursting crackers are the way of chief rituals of the festivals.

Also special and grand feast with delicious food which includes different varieties of sweets – Diwali is different from many other Indian festivals in that there is no fasting, but instead feasts celebrating the seasonal bounty.

Diwali – Lighting the Fire Within

Why Diwali is called the Festival of Lights?

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Newar Buddhists, although for each faith it marks different historical events and stories, which we will be covering in the next part. But nonetheless, the festival represents the same symbolic victory light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

Diwali is celebrated for various cultural reasons but historically, it is called Naraka Chaturdashi because Narakasura, a very cruel king, was killed by Krishna. Because of that, this celebration happened in such a big way. The celebration happened is auspicious in so many different ways. On this day, it is said that if someone needs money, Lakshmi will come in, If someone wants health, Shakti will come in. If someone wants good knowledge and education, Saraswati will come in. These are all dialectical ways of expressing that it will lead to wellbeing.

But the celebration is not just about lighting lamps outside- an inner light has to come. Light means a pure clarity, Without clarity, every other quality an individual posse will only become a detriment, not a gift because confidence without clarity is a disaster in this time.

And today, too much of action in the world is being performed without clarity and the whole world has come to a standstill.

Diwali is the day when the dark forces were put to death and light happened.

This is also the predicament of human life. Like the dark clouds passing in the gloomy atmosphere, not realizing that they are blocking the sunlight, in the case of human beings; one doesn’t have to bring any light from anywhere. If the person dispels the dark clouds that has gathered inside one, the light will emerge. The Festival of Lights is just a reminder of that.

The main significance of this festival is that we bring new clarity within us it’s what we need during this time. This clarity will arise within us when we remove the cobwebs of the past, only when we remove the cobwebs of hate and prejudice, only when we remove the cover of ignorance within us, that a new clarity will arise.

It is in this clarity that will lead us and the world to light. On this Diwali may we all arise with new clarity and vision.

This Diwali let’s make a commitment to ourselves that we will bring clarity and light within ourselves. Or make it a point to bring a smile to people’s faces.

Please, do this and bring some light to the world around you also.

We hope that now you have got much more clarity about the Meaning and Significance of Diwali. #HappyDiwali2024

Thank you.