Diwali, also called Deepavali or Divali,
is a major Hindu festival that is very significant in
Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Known as the "Festival
of Lights," it symbolises the victory of good over
evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope
for mankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly
traditional dipa (earthen lamp, as illustrated). Fireworks
are associated with the festival.
Diwali is a colloquial name used in North India, while
the festival is formally called Deepavali, and is called
in South India as such.
Diwali is celebrated for five consecutive days at the
end of Hindu month of Ashwayuja. It usually occurs in
October/November, and is one of the most popular and
eagerly awaited festivals in India. Diwali comes exactly
twenty days after Dussehra. Hindus and Sikhs alike regard
it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to
strengthen family and social relationships. For Hindus
it is one of the most important festivals, and beginning
of the year in some Hindu calendars. Hindus celebrate
Diwali to mark the time when Lord Rama achieved victory
over Ravana. It is also a significant festival for the
Sikh faith. In India, Diwali is now considered to be
more of a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect
of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless
of faith.
The festival is worshipped on exactly the same set of
days across India. It falls in different months depending
on the version of the Hindu calendar being used in the
given region.
The Amantnm ("ending on the no-moon") version
of the Hindu Calendar has been adopted as the Indian
national calendar. According to this calendar, which
is prevalent in southern India and Maharashtra, Deepavali
falls in the middle of the month of Ashwayuja. According
to the Purnimanta ("ending on the full-moon")
version prevalent in northern India, the 5-day celebration
is spread over the last three days of the month of Ashwayuja
and the first two days of the new month of Kartika.
In the Gregorian calendar, it falls generally in the
months of October or November. In 2006, it was celebrated
on October 21 (Saturday).
While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival
of lights", the most significant esoteric meaning
is "the awareness of the inner light".
Central to Hindu philosophy, is the assertion that
there is something beyond the physical body and mind
which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman.
Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being,
Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in
particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness
(removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening
the individual to ones true nature, not as the body,
but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent
reality. With the realization of the Atman, comes universal
compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of
all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (Inner
Joy or Peace).
Deepavali celebrates this through festive fireworks,
lights, flowers, sharing sweets, and worship. While
the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region,
the essence is the same - to rejoice in the Inner Light
(Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).
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