Diwali 2020: Festival of Lights

Diwali or Deepawali is renowned as the festival of lights and there’s no doubt it the fact that indeed it is a festival that cherishes light and removes the darkness on the night of Amavasya when even Moon is reluctant to brighten up the planet Earth. Deep means Lamp and Awali means row, thus the word Deepawali is basically an “arrangement or a row of lights”. To celebrate the arrival of Lord Rama who returned to Ayodhya after spending fourteen years of exile in a forest, people of Ayodhya decorated every street, every corner of their city by lighting lamps.

The festival of Diwali brings smiles on every face. Be it a five-year-old or an elderly, this festival is celebrated with similar enthusiasm by all. For Hindus, this is the festival of welcoming Maa Lakshmi to our houses. It is believed that if the evening aarti on the day of Diwali is done with devotion; and all the rituals are followed properly, the “Goddess of wealth”, Lakshmi becomes happy and showers you with growth and wealth. One of the most important things offered to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are Kheel and Batasha. Mouth watering delicacies are prepared at home on the day of the festival.

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Diwali is definitely the grandest celebration of the whole year. People decorate their houses and wear new clothes on Diwali. This is a five-day long festival of happiness and togetherness. No matter where the family members are living; everyone from the family tries to gather for the festival at home and enjoy the festivity together.

When is Diwali in 2020?

In the year 2020, the festival of Diwali will be celebrated on Saturday, 14th November as per Hindu Calendar or Panchang. To know the auspicious timings or muhurats for Puja, arti and other rituals, you may wish to have a look at the Panchang.

Diwali: Its importance

The festival of Diwali is celebrated on a new moon day in the month of Kartik according to the Hindu calendar. There are three different interpretations of the festival which is celebrated in different parts of India with different reasons for celebrating it.

In North India, the festival is celebrated as a day of happiness as Lord Rama returned from exile on this day and as it was a new moon night, people welcomed him by lighting diyas and with extreme joy. In South India, the day is celebrated as the defeat of the demon Narakasura by the hands of Lord Krishna. In West India, the festival is celebrated as Lord Vishnu had sent the demon King Bali on this day to rule the netherworld.

The festival of Diwali is celebrated for five consecutive days. The first day is Dhanteras when puja of Goddess Lakshmi is done. It is a common theory that Dhanteras is the day dedicated to worshipping wealth. However, the God of Health - Dhanvantari - also blessed the world with the power to cure diseases. Hence, this day is also crucial from the perspective of health. The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali which is celebrated as the kickstart of the main festival. The third day is the main festival of Diwali.

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The fourth day is for Govardhan puja. On this day Lord Krishna saved Gokul by lifting up the Govardhan mountain on the smallest finger of his hand. He did so the tell Lord Indra that there was a superior power who could save the world and the role devtas were allotted was of nurturer and they need not be egoist for the same.

The five-day long festival concludes with Bhai Duj which is a festival dedicated to the bond of brother and sister. As per mythology, Goddess Yami applied a tilak on the forehead of her brother Lord Yam. On this day, girls apply tika on their brother’s forehead and pray for their long life as it is believed that Lord Yamraj, the bearer of death, bless those brothers who are dear to their sisters.

Things required in Diwali Puja

You can look for the muhurat in the Panchang. There are some things which are very important for the puja. Some of them include mango tree leaves, the deity or idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, ghee for aarti, tika and chawal (rice), offerings including kheel and batasha (to kept in front of the deity), flowers, sweets and cotton to light the aarti. It is very important to check a Panchang so that the aarti is performed at the right muhurat. Eating meat or non-vegetarian food and drinking alcohol or smoking is forbidden on this day.

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Major Practices for Diwali Aarti

• All the members of the family together perform the pooja.
• All the things required for the aarti are kept in place.
• At the right muhurat, the Pujan is initiated.
• One-by-one all the couples and unmarried people in the family will move the aarti in a clockwise direction.
• Prayers are sung and mantras are chanted at the time of aarti by everyone.
• Offerings are made to the lord and the goddess and then distributed as Prasad.
• You may make rangoli near the place where you have arranged for the aarti.

Mistakes to be avoided

• Perform all rituals properly. You can take help of an expert but everything including the aarti must be done at the right time with the right ingredients.
• Refer the Panchang 2020 for the right muhurat, so that the pooja ritual is most effective.
• The aarti is to be completed in the given time frame which is mentioned in the Panchang for Diwali 2020.

What are the benefits of having a Panchang in Diwali?

1. The customs and rituals of every Hindu festival take place at an auspicious time.
2. It is believed that performing the prayers at the right time yield better results.
3. During a day, there is Rahu kaal and other unauspicious periods which are unfavourable for certain ceremonies.
4. Panchang makes it clear that which is the tithi and nakshatra applicable during the day, thus removing any confusion about the time of ceremonies.
5. Since ancient period, it is mandatory to perform special ceremonies at a particular muhurat, Panchang is thus mandatory to be adhered to.
6. With a Panchang, you would know what time you should do the prayers and when to visit your relatives.

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Diwali - Lighting up the lives.

During the festival of Diwali, it is a trend to purchase new things, new clothes, decorative items for the home, gifts for loved ones, sweets and a lot more. This festival has become a magnanimous event that everybody looks forward to. Be it Sikhs or Hindus or people of other communities, they may not be inclined towards worshipping Hindu deities but are actively appreciating the festive spirit that covers the whole nation.

This festival is one such time for people in India when all the members of family gather and prayers are recited to the god and goddesses to maintain spirituality and pass on the values. Festivals always help in preserving culture and send this message of love which we often forget to give during the busy schedules we follow.

Diwali is much like Christmas, though there is no Santa involved. Decorating the house with diyas and fairy lights is a common practice which makes the whole locality look like a fairyland at night during Diwali. This festival is celebrated not only in India but in all other parts of the world where Hindus reside. People gather and gifts are exchanged.

In 2020, Diwali will be on Saturday making it more exciting. With a festival falling on a weekend, people cheer up as there is more time to stay with their family and a lot of memorable moments are made. Not only the holidays are fun, but they serve as the means of making families stick together. Wealth and prosperity are attained not only by worshipping God but by respecting the elders and loving the young ones in a family. Richness means happiness, health, wealth and above all contentment.

While Diwali is referred to as the festival of light, it becomes an excuse to decorate your house, show gratitude for what you have, pray for what you desire, expect happiness and bliss, and do things that strengthen your relationships. Lighting of diyas is something, Diwali is incomplete without.

We welcome Goddess Lakshmi to our house on Diwali. This Diwali, let's do something that brings happiness to other people’s world who are not as blessed as we are. Festivals are a way to say we care and if God has made us capable of doing good, why refrain from doing so? This Diwali let’s brighten up someone else's' life, there couldn’t be a better way to please Maa Lakshmi. Refer to Panchang for Puja muhurat but to help someone in need, every moment is auspicious every day is perfect.

Have a happy and safe Diwali.