Ayodhya Nath Kerni
Ours is the land of festivals. Many festivals have seasonal backdrop while some are to with our social customs prevailing in the society. Diwali is one of the festival of harvest time and an indicator of ensuing winter season, celebrated with great fervor. Houses are cleaned, white washed and painted regardless of one financial status. In the recent past, children in Duggar villages would gather and make hand made earthen lamps for Diwali. These lamps were lit with Desi Ghee and placed before the elderly members of the family who in turn gave them blessings and gifts. Now-a-days there is a change in this tradition. The earthen lamps have been replaced with assorted coloured candles and electric lamps. The old tradition is also found missing in Duggar Region. If one looks back to Sutra period, mention of a yajna namely Ashwayuja is traced in old vedic scriptures. The yajna was performed in ancient India which changed with the passage of time to take the shape of Lakshmi Puja as being celebrated in the present form of Diwali.
Consecutive five days beginning from Dhan Teras to Yam Dwitiya have their own tale, legend and myth to tell. Dhan Teras is celebrated by purchasing utensils and kitchenware as a mark of prosperity. Narak Chaudas is dedicated to lord Krishna who killed demon king Narakasura ruler of Pragyajyotishpura (Assam), Sri Krishna freed 16000 women kept in captivity by the demon king and accorded them the social dignity by giving them the status of his wives. Sri Krishna bathed himself smearing his body with the oil. Morning oil bath on Chaudas came into vogue since that day. The oil bath is considered as holy as a dip in the Ganges. Hanuman Jyanti also falls on this day which is also celebrated by the devotees. The next day Amavasya is the main Diwali day The day falling next to Diwali has multi significance. Besides performing Goverdhan Puja, Anna koot; Bali Pratipada are also celebrated. Bali steps out of hell to rule earth for three days according to boon granted by lord Vishanu. Indira fearing to lose his kingdom heaven approached lord Vishanu to prevent Bali performing 100th Ashvamedh Yajna. Lord Vishanu in his fifth incarnation as dwarf Brahmin (Vamanavtar) asked Bali for a gift of space equal to his three steps. Bali famous for charity agreed his demand. Vishanu in his first step measured all the earth and in second step all the sky. Vishanu asked Bali where should he put his third step. Bali bound by the commitment offered his head to put his third step. Lord Vishanu put his third step on the head of Bali pushing him to netherworld. Bali was granted a boon to visit earth on the occasion of Diwali. Lakshmi was rescued from the prison of Bali. Fifth day and last day of festival ends with Bhai Dooj. The sisters invite brothers to their houses to offer them tilak and arti. Deliciouis dishes are also served to brothers and brothers give gifts to their sistersin turn.
Diwali is celebrated in various forms by different sections of society. Tantriks practice their rituals and chant hymns in their own way to attain perfection. Lakshmi Puja is however, performed every where in the country. People also worship Ganesh and Lakshmi on this occasion with the desire to get more wealth during the year. The day is also celebrated as marriage day of mother Lakshmi to lord Vishanu. The lights are the main attractions of Diwali. Exploding of fire crackers is seen in the entire country. Merchants close their old account books and open new account books on this auspicious day.
Diwali has many historical references and legends as far as its origin is concerned. Few of them would lay hands about the auspicious day. Lord Rama, Lakhsman and mother Sita returned to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana, conquering Lanka and completion of 14 years exile. The residents of Ayodhya expressed their joy by decorating their houses and welcoming them with grace. Oil lamps were illumined every where. Drums were beaten and flutes played in the city. People mounted on the roofs of the house to welcome lords. Since that day each year Diwali is celebrated in our country as victory day.
The Godess of wealth mother Lakshmi incarnated during the churning of ocean . The day is also celebrated as birth day of Lakshmi. Pandavas appeared from 12 years banishment as a result of their defeat at the hands of Kauravas at the game of dice. The people who loved Pandavas celebrated Diwali by illumining earthen lamps. King Vikramaditya was coronated on the auspicious day of Diwali . Later on he started his own calander known as Vikrami Samvbat which is still in use in India by astrologers. According to spiritual beliefs Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati , founder of Arya Samaj and Mahavir (Jain Tirathkar) attained eternal bliss of nirvana on the auspicious day of Diwali.
The foundation stone of Harminder Saheb (Golden Temple) was laid down on Diwali in the year 1577 AD. The sixth sikh guru Hargobind alongwith 52 other kings held in Gwalior fort and converted into jail by Mughal emperor Jenhagir were released on the day of Diwali in 1619 AD.
In the modern times, one should remain away from the superstitious beliefs like tradition of gambling on Diwali night. Godess Parvati played dice with lord Shiva on Diwali so whosoever gambled on Diwali would gain wealth and become prosperous. Gambling may not be seen under this pretext. There are numerous cases where people have lost their hard earnings in gambling. Gambling in no way can be recognized by our modern society nor is the demand of the festival. There is the tradition in the society that all jewellary and cash be placed before the idol of mother Lakshmi would in order to perform puja and attain the blessings of Godess. The doors of the houses are kept opened through out the night with the belief that mother Lakshmi visit every house hold on Diwali night. In case doors are kept opened mother, Lakshmi can conveniently enter to give blessings and prosperity to the house owners. Such apprehensions are prone to theft and may cause heavy loss. The preventive steps may necessarily be taken to ensure the safety .
Indiscriminate use of fire crackers is at increase each year particularly in cities. Many cases of fire accidents are reported each year. Many lives are lost due to bursting of fire crackers . Utmost care has to be exercised in sale, storage and handling of firecrackers so that untoward happenings are avoided on festival. The usage of firecrackers ought to be minimized so as to bring down the pollution level and curtail the wasteful expenditure.
How good it would if one of attains full. On the day of Diwali. Let Diwali be celebrated in a manner that we get more blessings and happiness.
Go for a Green Diwali
Seema Bhagotra
“Deepavali ,the Festival of Lights, is becoming a major spoil-sport in pollution free environment. Let’s have a noiseless and environment-friendly Diwali. A GREEN DIWALI. ““India, a land of diversities, has diverse festivals all the year around. Deepavali, or Diwali, considered to be a Hindu festival, is also celebrated by the Sikhs and the Jains. Hindus celebrate the home-coming of Rama , after fourteen years. The citizens of Ayodhya illuminated every nook and corner. Sikhs celebrate the release of Guru Hargobind Singh from Gwalior jail. They also used diyas and candles to welcome him. Jain Tiranthkar Mahavir attained nirvana on this day, so Jains celebrate this day as a day of enlightenment, thereby the use of lights. It shows how India is an amalgamation of different cultures celebrating a festival in their own way. “Deepavali, which means, a row of deeps or diyas , is celebrated on Kartik Amavasya. Amavasya or the new moon night , devoid of any natural light is illuminated by innumerable diyas and candles. Diyas signify dispelling darkness or ignorance with the light that can fill us with enlightenment and knowledge. Ancient scriptures don’t mention fireworks on Diwali day, but with the passage of time, fireworks made inroad in the festivities. Fireworks are supposed to scare away evil spirits.
“Diwali is synonymous with dhoom -dhadaka of fireworks. Fireworks have become a status symbol for the display of the ill-gotten wealth. It has become fashionable to use crackers that cause maximum distress and annoyance to the people with scant disregard to the impact it has on the environment. “Crackers release a large amount of toxic substances which aggravate respiratory problems, hearing loss and many other diseases; beside the air and noise pollution. Toxins cause immense suffering to the flora and fauna as well. They are the silent sufferers, but the green cover , gives reprieve to the people by absorbing the toxins and themselves dying a silent death. It also serves as a sound barrier to lessen the deafening noise pollution. Supreme Court passed an order in 2005 that bursting of crackers between 10pm and 6am is considered an offence, but people do not give an iota of consideration to such orders. Sparkling noiseless crackers must be allowed , which will fulfill dual purpose, save the planet and the need of the festivities. “People worship Goddess Lakshmi on this day , but burn’ Lakshmi’ , our hard earned money for a momentary satisfaction. Money used in buying crackers must be used to feed some needy or to light up some dark corner of less privileged,the real essence of the Festival of Lights. One can use the same money for themselves for other purposes.
People often give lame excuse that they buy fireworks for the enjoyment of their children. Firework assembling units employ children which is illegal. So the children should be enlightened on the perils of the crackers and urge them to avoid the toxin-releasing fireworks. “Steps should be taken to have a green Diwali to minimise the impact on the environment. For this some simple ways can be adopted. “* Light earthen diyas and candles , , instead of lights to save electricity. “* Wrap gifts in hand made paper, recycled paper , jute or cloth bags. “* Use eco-friendly crackers made of recycled materials. They produce paper fluffers and coloured lights instead of deafening noise. “* Use of fresh flowers, rangoli, alpana are more traditional way to decorate the house. “* It can be great time to recycle and donate items lying around the house. It will make diwali more brighter for the less privileged and yours a meaningful one. “* Think before you indulge in a buying spree in the name of tradition, because extra buying means extra use of the resources. Remember the lesson learnt in school; reduce, reuse, and recycle. “* Try to have a community affair , where people gather together to celebrate. “* Send e-cards instead of the paper cards. Send sms, e-messages to minimise the use of paper. “Keeping in mind the symbolic significance of the Festival of Lights, remove the darkness of ignorance and enjoy a Green Diwali. “
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