Delhi: Diwali is celebrated all over the country on October 24.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wished the people a Happy Diwali. May the festival bring happiness and prosperity. “Happy Diwali to all. Diwali is associated with brightness and radiance. Let this auspicious festival go further. May there be days of happiness and prosperity in your life…. I hope you have a wonderful Diwali with family and friends,” he wished.
Wishing everyone a Happy Diwali. Diwali is associated with brightness and radiance. May this auspicious festival further the spirit of joy and well-being in our lives. I hope you have a wonderful Diwali with family and friends.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2022President Draupadi Murmu also wished Diwali. “Happy Diwali to all countrymen! On this holy festival of light and joy, let us light the lamp of knowledge and energy and try to bring happiness in the lives of those who need it. On this great festival, I pray for happiness and prosperity,” Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted.
सभी देशवासियों को दीवाली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं! प्रकाश और उमंग के इस पवित्र त्योहार पर, हम ज्ञान और ऊर्जा के दीपक को प्रज्ज्वलित करते हुए जरूरतमंद लोगों के जीवन में भी खुशियां लाने का प्रयास करें। मैं इस महापर्व पर सभी देशवासियों के जीवन में सुख-समृद्धि के लिए प्रार्थना करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 24, 2022
Diwali is a celebration of victory of good over evil. Diwali is celebrated on the new moon day of Libra month. It is also called Diwali because it is the festival of lights. There are many stories behind this celebration, one of the most popular spiritual stories is that of Lord Vishnu killing "Narakasura."
Diwali is one of the most important Hindu festivals. 'Diwali' means 'a festival of lights'. The festival of lights, or Diwali, symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.
On Diwali, houses are decorated with lights and lamps. In the Hindu tradition, the lamp is an important part of prayer and signifies purity, goodness, luck and strength. The festival of lights falls on the new moon day when there is no light and evil spirits etc. are believed to gain strength and become aggressive. Therefore, lamps are lit in every corner of the house to weaken those evil forces.
"Deepam" has a deep meaning. Its oil symbolizes the impurities of the human mind like greed, envy, hatred and lust. Cotton is a symbol of the soul. When oil is lit with a wick, the lamp gives light. So the lighting of the lamps means that one should get rid of greedy and materialistic thoughts.
Credits: Diwali in Ireland - RTÉ's Morning Edition
Diwali celebrations and rituals have regional variations. However, wearing new clothes and lighting the lamp and exchanging gifts is customary everywhere. Diwali is a big celebration that lasts for five days in North India. But in South India mainly there is only one day.
There is a saying that in this celebration, which is the festival of lights, the whole body should be smeared with oil early in the morning. Believers are still doing it today. Oil bath is prohibited on other special days and fasting days. However, on Diwali, it is customary to bathe in oil. Know the legend behind it.
Lord Vishnu killed the ferocious Narakasura as Lakshmi. Diwali is celebrated to commemorate the joyous deities celebrating by lighting the lamp and serving sweets. It is said that oil bath should be done on the day of Diwali to commemorate the Lord bathing with oil after winning the war.
It is believed that regardless of age, bathing with oil all over the body before sunrise is good for getting rid of all sins and prosperity. Also, this day is also an auspicious day for Lakshmi Puja. It is believed that there is presence of Goddess Ganga in water bodies and Goddess Lakshmi in oil. After bathing, women draw rangolis and light lamps. The lights signal the arrival of the festival.
Children burst crackers. Families eat sweets and snacks together. Diwali fills every heart with joy and excitement. The celebration makes everyone feel divine.
For traders, Diwali is the festival of wealth. Day to perform Dhan Puja. It is on that day that those who owe money to traders pay it.
Diwali is celebrated to propitiate Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, in the house. So there are many stories behind Diwali celebrations. Diwali is a celebration full of lights and crackers to bring prosperity to the home. On the day of Diwali, smoking ashtagandha, dashangam, camphor and kunthirik in the morning and evening will also increase prosperity. If it is a multiple of four, i.e. four, eight, twelve, sixteen, then it is best.
