A Brief Introduction to Diwali

In 2022, Diwali falls on October 24th, which is a new moon day or Amavasya, lasting for five days from the 13th day of the dark-half of the lunar month, Ashvina, to the second day of the light-half of the lunar month, Kartika. The translation from Sanskrit of Diwali is ‘row of lights.  The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

How is it celebrated?

Among Hindus, the most widespread custom is the lighting of diyas (small earthenware lamps filled with oil) on the night of the new moon to invite the presence of Lakshmi, the Goddess of good fortune and wealth. That’s why the doors and windows of houses are kept open in the hope that Lakshmi will find her way inside and bless the residents with wealth and success. Diwali is generally a time for visiting, exchanging gifts, wearing new clothes, feasting, feeding the poor, and setting off fireworks. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli (these are elaborate designs made of coloured rice, sand, or flower petals)

Why Is Diwali Celebrated?

 There are many reasons! Historically, it marks the day when Krishna was supposed to have slain Narakasura, a mythical King. Narakasura was not his original name, but he gave everyone hell, so they called him Narakasura. Narak means hell – one who is causing hell to everyone is a Narakasura. When this “causing of hell” was ended by Krishna, people celebrated by lighting lamps in every house. That is why on Naraka Chaturdashi (the second day of the 5-day celebration of Diwali), from around four o’clock in the morning, all over the country, diyas were first lit by the people in their own kingdoms.  

 In the story of Rama and Sita, people light lamps also to welcome their King, Rama, after saving his wife Sita and defeating the demon, Ravana. Some people in India also believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi (Goddess of good fortune and wealth) And in West Bengal, Diwali is celebrated to worship goddess Kali, who is the goddess of Shakti, which means power and energy.  The Narakasura event supposedly happened much later, but the culture and tradition of lighting lamps around this time goes back twelve to fifteen thousand years.

In India, people believe that life hits a point of inertia at this time of the year, so firecrackers are burst, so everyone wakes up, or comes alive. The idea is that if you yourself are not living like a ‘firecracker’, fully alive and switched on, then least the firecrackers around you could wake you up a little bit.

The Spiritual Significance of Diwali

This is about the nature of the festival, but the important aspect is to overcome inertia. Life is a play of time and energy. You have a certain amount of time and a certain amount of energy. Time passes whether you are busy or lazy, whether you are healthy or sick. Instead of life being a tremendous possibility, our minds can become a problem. We may give our suffering different names, calling it stress, anxiety, depression, madness, or misery. But essentially, it means ‘our minds’ have turned against us.

This being the nature of human existence, then clarity is of supreme importance. That is why light is important. Light means clarity. Diwali is important because it is a festival dedicated to clarity and light. Once inertia sets in, you will not go to hell – you will be hell to others. In anger, jealousy, hate, and fear, you create narak and become a Narakasura. If these are taken away, a new light can shine.

On the days of Diwali festival, the Sun, and the Moon are in conjunction which means that this period promotes harmony. This balance of the Sun and the Moon we aim to maintain within us also. On Diwali, you will see every town, city and village is lit up with thousands of lamps everywhere. But the celebration is not just about lighting lamps outside – an inner light of clarity also has to be lit, because confidence without clarity is a disaster. Give and forgive - it is common practice that people forget and forgive the wrongs done by others during Diwali. There is an air of freedom, festivity, and friendliness everywhere. 

Light signifies a new beginning. If we approach everything in a celebratory way, we learn to be absolutely involved in our lives. Our suffering need not come in the form of demon. Desperations, depression, and frustration can cause much more damage than a demon we have not seen. Diwali is a reminder to slay all that is negative to our life, and on this festive of light, let our inner light remain on. Maybe we see this situation as an opportunity to enhance our life. Light and darkness are just two perceptions of our senses. Maybe a firecracker this Diwali can awaken us to the light that lies beyond of our senses.

Practice

A practice you might try at this time of year is the simple act of repeating a mantra many times, until its resonance grows within you. This is the Laxmi Gayatri Mantra from the ancient Rig Veda text:

Om Shree Mahalakshmi Cha Vidmahe

Vishnu Patnyai Cha Dheemahi

Tanno Lakshmi Prachodayat Om

Written by Sparsh Tomar

 Sparsh is from the city of Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. He is currently undertaking his MA degree in the traditions of Yoga and Meditation at SOAS University in London. He is a motivated and energetic yoga student seeking to gain knowledge of inner consciousness, mindfulness, and meditation. He desires to give to his community the benefits born from calming the mind through a mixture of hatha yoga and traditional meditation. He aims to live a yogic lifestyle and lead in a way that reflects that choice.

You can expect to see a lot more of Sparsh around the studio in the coming months as our collaboration grows…