DIWALI PEAKS TODAY ON OCT 31ST

Vedic Holidays: Diwali – Festival of Lights

Diwali 5 day celebration

Day 1: Dhanteras: Festival of Wealth – Lamps are ritually kept lit throughout the night in honor of Lakshmi and Dhanvantar.

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi: Early morning religious rituals and festivities take place. Home decorations and colorful floor patterns called rangoli are made, and women decorate their hands with henna patterns.

Day 3: Deepavali: Relatives, family and friends acknowledge important relationships and friendships by exchanging gifts and sweets.

Day 4: Diwali Padua: Celebrates the mutual love and devotion of the marital bond.

5th day: Bhai Dooj: The main festival ends with the dedication of the fifth day to sisterhood.

The puja may be performed over a five-day festival.

Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate and decorate their homes and offices. They wear new clothes, light lamps and candles, and participate in pujas to worship Lakshmi. The puja is followed by fireworks and a family feast where sweets and gifts are exchanged among family, friends and loved ones.

For many businessmen, this day also marks the start of a new financial year by adopting a new ‘Bahi Hatha’ or accounting books after making offerings to Goddess Lakshmi. They believe that with her blessings, this year will be beneficial for them. (India Post)

This festival is known to be mentioned in Sanskrit scriptures like Skanda Purana and Padma Purana. In the former text there is mention of diyas or small lamps, which are said to symbolize the part of the sun that gives light and energy to everything. According to popular mythology, Diwali is associated with Yama and Nachiketa on Kartik Amavasya, the new moon night of Diwali. This story has long been revered as a story about right and wrong, true wealth and knowledge. Perhaps this is why people celebrate Diwali as the festival of lights, which means knowledge, prosperity and wisdom.

Special thanks to Komilla Sutton, Jamie Bateman, and other sources, including Wikipedia, for their help in gathering information about special Hindu holidays.