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Diwali EssayDeepavali or Diwali, popularly known as the fiesta of lights, is a five- sidereal day Hindu festival3 which starts on Dhanteras, famed on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, illustrious on second lunar day of Shukla paksha of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. Dhanteras usu entirelyy falls eighteen geezerhood after Dussehra. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.Diwali is an official holiday in India,4 Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji. For Hindus, Diwali is i of the most(prenominal) alpha festivals of the division and is famous in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. For Jains, Diwali label the progress of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.56 Arya Samajists, celebrate this day as remainder Anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Th ey also celebrate this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.The name Diwali or Divali is a contraction of deepavali which translates into grade of lamps.7 Diwali involves the lighting of wee clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of acceptable everywhere evil.8 These lamps ar kept on during the night and ones mob is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi olfactory perception encounter.9 Firecrackers are extravasate because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits.101112 During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival is called the Naraka Chaturdasi. Amavasya, the trine day of Diwali, marks the faith of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The fourth day of Diwali is known as Kartika Shudda Padyami. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya, and on t his day sisters invite their br opposites to their homes. Deepavali or Diwali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is a five-day Hindu festival3 which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishnapaksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on second lunar day of Shukla paksha of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. Dhanteras usually falls eighteen days after Dussehra. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.Diwali is an official holiday in India,4 Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.56 Arya Samajists, celebrate this day as Death Anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswat i. They also celebrate this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.The name Diwali or Divali is a contraction of deepavali which translates into row of lamps.7 Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil.8 These lamps are kept on during the night and ones house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel take.9 Firecrackers are reveal because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits.101112 During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival is called the Naraka Chaturdasi. Amavasya, the third day of Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The fourth day of Diwali is known as Kartika Shudda Padyami. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya, and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes. It begins in late Ashvin (between September and October) and ends in early Kartika (between October and November). The days in Ashvin are in the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of that month, while the days in Kartik are in its Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight). The first day is Dhan Teras. The finis day is YamaDvitiya, which signifies the second day of the light half of Kartika. Each day of Diwali marks one solemnization of the six principal stories associated with the festival.Hindus have several significant events associated with Diwali The return of Rama after 14 years of Vanvas (exile). To welcome his return, diyas (ghee lamps) are lit in total of 14. The killing of Narakasura Celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, one day forward Diwali, it commemorates the killing of the evil monster Narakasura, who wreaked havoc. In different versions, either Krishna or Krishnas wife Satyabhama killed Narakasura during the Dwapara yuga.Other events associated with Diwali allowR eturn of Pandavas after 12 years of Vanvas and one year of agyatavas (living incognito).Diwali being the festival of lights, across India mass celebrate it via symbolic diyas or kandils (colourful paper lanterns) as an integral part of Diwali decorations. Diwali rejoicings are spread over five days, from Dhanteras to Bhaiduj. In some marks like Maharashtra it starts with Vasu Baras. All the days except Diwali are named according to their surname in the Hindu calendar. The days are 1.Govatsa Dwadashi or Vasu Baras (27 Ashvin or 12 Krishna Paksha Ashvin) Go style terrify and vatsa means calf. Dwadashi or Baras means the 12th day. On this day the cow and calf are worshiped. The allegory associated with this day is that of King Prithu, son of the tyrant King Vena. Due to the ill rule of Vena, there was a terrible famine and earth stopped being fruitful. Prithu chased the earth, who is usually represented as cow, and milked her, nitty-gritty that he brought prosperity to the land . 2.Dhanatrayodashi or Dhan teras or Dhanwantari Triodasi (28 Ashvin or 13 Krishna Paksha Ashvin) Dhana means wealth and Trayodashi means 13th day.This day falls on the 13th day of the second half of the lunar month. It is considered an gracious day for buying utensils and gold, hence the name Dhana. This day is regarded as the Jayanti (Birth Anniversary) of God Dhanvantari, the Physician of Gods, who came out during Samudra manthan, the riotous of the great ocean by the gods and the demons.3.Naraka Chaturdashi (29 Ashvin or 14 Krishna Paksha Ashvin) Chaturdashi is the 14th day This was the day on which the demon Narakasura was killed by Krishna an incarnation of Vishnu. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness (Gujarati glasswort Chaudas, Rajasthan Roop Chaudas). In southern India, this is the actual day of festivities. Hindus wake up before dawn, have a sweet oil bath and dress in new clothes. They light small lamps all around the house and draw ela borate kolams /rangolis outside their homes. They perform a special puja with offerings to Krishna or Vishnu, as he emancipate the world from the demon Narakasura on this day. It is believed that taking a bath before sunrise, when the stars are still gross in the sky is equivalent to taking a bath in the holy Ganges. After the puja, children burst firecrackers heralding the defeat of the demon. As this is a day of rejoicing, many will have very elaborate breakfasts and lunches and bear family and friends. 4.Lakshmi Puja (30 Ashvin or 15 Krishna Paksha Ashvin) Lakshmi Puja marks the most important day of Diwali celebrations in North India.Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings also known as the remover of obastacles, and then light deeyas (little clay pots) in the streets and homes to welcome prosperity and well-being. 5.Bali Pratipada and Govardhan Puja (1 Kartika or 1 Shukla Paksha Kartika) In North India, this day is ce lebrated as Govardhan Puja, also called Annakoot, and is celebrated as the day Krishna an incarnation of god Vishnu defeated Indra and by the lifting of Govardhana hill to save his kinsmen and cattle from come down and floods. For Annakoot, large quantities of food are decorated symbolising the Govardhan hill lifted by Krishna. In Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it is celebrated as Bali-Pratipada or Bali Padyami. The day commemorates the victory of Vishnu in his dwarf form Vamana over the demon-king Bali, who was pushed into the patala. In Maharashtra, it is called Padava or Nava Diwas (new day). Men present gifts to their wives on this day. It is celebrated as the first day of the Vikram Samvat calendar, in Gujarat. 6.Yama Dwitiya or Bhaiduj (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) (2 Kartika or 2 Shukla Paksha Kartika) on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express love and affection for each other (Gujarati Bhai Bij, Bengali Bhai Phota). It is based on a account when Yama, lord of Death, visited his sister Yami (the river Yamuna). Yami welcomed Yama with an Aartiand they had a feast together. Yama gave a gift to Yami while leaving as a token of his appreciation. So, the day is also called YAMA DWITIYA. Brothers visit their sisters place on this day and usually have a meal there, and also give gifts to their sistersGoddess Lakshmi Pujaedit sourceMain article Lakshmi PujaDiwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers give thanks for the bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for businesses subject on the agrarian cycle, and is the last major celebration before winter. Lakshmi symbolises wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.There are two legends that associate the worship of Lakshmi on this day. According to the first legend, on this day, Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan. The second legend (more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana avatar of the double three Vishnu, the incarnation he assumed to kill the king Bali. On this day, Vishnu came back to his abode the Vaikuntha so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being.13As per apparitional references, on this day Lakshmi-panchayatan enters the Universe. Vishnu, Indra, Kubera, Gajendra and Lakshmi are elements of this panchayatan (a group of five). The tasks of these elements are Lakshmi Divine Energy (Shakti) which provides energy to all the higher up activities. Vishnu Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)Kubera Wealth (generosity one who shares wealth)Indra Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)Gajendra Carries the wealthSaraswati KnowledgeDiwali is non only celebrated by Hindus it is somewhat also a Sikh festival as it marks the Bandi Chhor Divas festival.Spiritual significanceedit source part Diwali is popularly known as the festival of lights, the most significant spiritual meaning behind it is the sensory faculty of the inner light. Central to Hindu mythology is the belief that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. The celebration of Diwali as the victory of good over evil, refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks ones true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With this awakening comes compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings anand (joy or peace). Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Diwali is the celebration of this Inner Light.While the story behind Diwali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essenc e is the same to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).