Diwali 2022: Why and how Diwali raised from a usual ritual to the pedestal of festival



It’s a Festival that illuminates the Earth as well as the Skies and brings joy abound on this world. It is a festival when the whole of India transcends into a land of myriad lamps. Deepavali, the Festival of Lights has all the charm, grandeur and splendour that can even illuminate our minds and hearts while also promoting the much needed peace, harmony and brotherhood in the society. It is a Festival that unifies every religion, every home and every heart.

The festival of Deepavali has a deep spiritual meaning, it essentially means the Awareness of the Inner Light. In a way it is the celebration of the awakening and awareness of the Inner Light which has the power to outshine darkness and clear all obstacles in life.

Different beliefs of celebrating Diwali

There are different beliefs behind every everything happens in the world. Some such unheard stories are there behind celebrating Diwali.

In northern India, they celebrate the story of King Rama’s return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.

Southern India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.

In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world.

As per a legend from the epic Mahabharata, it was Karthik Amavasya when the Pancha Pandavas returned from their 12 years of exile. It is said the people who loved the Pandavas celebrated the day by lighting thousands of earthen lamps and distributing sweets.

History says the greatest Hindu king Vikramaditya was coronated on the day of Diwali, which also makes the festival historic and not merely mythological.

The Festival of Diwali is also of great significance to Jains as it is said it was on this day that Lord Mahaveera attained Nirvana or eternal bliss.

The Sikhs too have a reason to celebrate Diwali. History says that it was on this auspicious day that Guru Hargobind, the Sixth Sikh Guru was freed from captivity of Jahangir, the Mughal Emperor. Sikhs also celebrate Diwali to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone for the Golden Temple in 1577.

Scientific reason behind celebrating Diwali

Apart from religious, there are many scientific reasons for this, which connects this culture of ours with the modern world.

October/November is a very weird season, especially if you look at the climate pattern. Its metamorphism from raining to humid and getting chilled at night exposes you to 
various kinds of virus and diseases, the most popular being the common cold.

It is because this perfect weather which is promoted by the low temperature and humid, the bacteria starts propagating. An ignited oil lamp, together with the chemicals evolved from the flame kills these bacterial populations. The effect gets multiplied to several thousand times when you light up hundreds of diyas around you.

Another interesting thing to note is that the light of the Diya superposes over the magnetic field around your superficial electromagnetic flux. The phenomenon activated your blood cells and the immunity provided by them makes you feel so energetic and full of life. That is why during Diwali homes are cleaned and hundreds of lamps are lit to ensure the atmosphere around is all safe.

Why and how diwali raised from a usual ritual to the pedestal of festival?

Diwali is also known as harvest festival

Diwali is celebrated in the months of October/November, when Kharif crops are harvested.

People who were primarily involved in farming did not have money all year. Their entire existence was dependent on the harvest going off without a hitch.

When the yield was abundant, it indicated good earnings and a prosperous time. Prosperity, also known as wealth or lakshmi in India, is thought to enter their lives.

This meant it was time to celebrate and thank nature for providing them with a bountiful harvest. With enough money, they bought new clothes, painted the house, and 
performed pooja to thank the goddess for the money, wishing it would be the same every year.

Thus, the ritual of purchasing new clothes and paraphernalia has deviated from what people used to do. Unlike today, it was only during times of good yield that they could afford to buy new clothes for themselves and their families and prepare lavish meals.

It came to be anointed new year as a new beginning with sumptuous yield.

Why diyas and oil lamps are lit up

During winter the nights are longer than day. Which means evenings arrive much early. Unlike today when we have artificial lights that wasn’t the case back then.

To get rid of darkness and show way to farmers returning from work, the houses were lit with diyas or oil lamps. You may ask doesn’t it get dark in summer. Well, during summer the sun sets much later and lends enough light for men to find their way back home.

How rangoli making raised to the pedestal of festival?

Winter is associated with the dead. Many trees had leaves, but no flowers were grown except for a few chrysanthemums. This results in a colourless environment.
For making up for a colourless and celebrating the joy of a good yield. Outside the houses, beautiful rangolis were created. Some are color-filled.

How burning crakers raised to the pedestal of festival?

As the night approached early, wild start to stray earlier. In order to prevent the animals from loitering close by, crackers were burst or noises were made. Also everywhere they lit diyas to shoo off animals. Animals are scared of fire and noise.

Let the Lights of Happiness spread across the globe. Let this Diwali bring joy and happiness abound for humanity by dispelling the darkness of ignorance and many more evils that are creating havoc on mankind.

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Dr. Kirti Sisodhia

Content Writer

CATEGORIES Business Agriculture Technology Environment Health Education

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