Mallika Janakiraman
Auckland, October 31, 2021
Another Hindu belief: Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama and his Coronation
My take on Diwali, as it kindled my thoughts and lit my mind to reflect – Why and How?
Diwali is celebrated most often between the months of October and November on a special night of Amavasya or New Moon. This year, Diwali or Deepavali meaning Row of Lights in Sanskrit, will be celebrated on November 4.
Narakasura, linking Krishna
Diwali is celebrated as a victory of good over evil. It is believed in Hindu mythology that Lord Vishnu, in his Eighth Incarnation as Lord Krishna, killed the evil demon Narakasura who ruled the kingdom of Pradyoshapuram. Amongst the many atrocities powering his wicked deeds, he kidnapped beautiful women and forced them to live with him. He tested his limit when he stole some earrings belonging to Aditi, Mother of all Gods.
His protective shield was that none other than his mother could kill him.
Lord Krishna knew that his wife Satyabhama was a reincarnation and Mother Bhumadevi (Goddess of Earth) to Narkasur in her previous avatar. Therefore, as a strategy, He asked His wife to drive the chariot as He battled the demon.
During the battle, Lord Krishna pretended to be hit by an arrow shot by Narkasur, which provoked Satyabhama to grab Lord Krishna’s bow and arrow and kill Narkasur instantly.
Being a mother to the demon in her earlier life, she declared the day of Narkasur’s death should not be a day of gloom.
Hence, Hindus celebrate this event as it shows the power of good over evil, much to ponder on the seed of destiny which determines the birth and death by the same Creator.
As a ritual after the battle, Krishna bathed in oil to clean the splattered blood from his body. To this day, a special oil bath, scented with herbs, is a ritual to begin the celebration.
Ramayana, linking Rama
Another take from the Hindu epic Ramayana links the festival to the day Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman reached Ayodhya after a period of 14 years in exile after Rama’s army of good, defeated demon King Ravana’s army of evil. People of Ayodhya celebrated the occasion by placing oil lamps (Diyas) to light their path. Making this a tradition important to Diwali celebrations that is a feature in every home even today.
According to another belief, Goddess Lakshmi was born on Diwali Day, as the Cosmic Ocean was churned (Samudra Manthan). This is the reason and significance of Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and her worship as a Deity on Diwali Day. I wonder if it was originally the prosperity of the mind and body over actual materialist wealth.
Sweets are offered as gifts to mark Diwali (Image by Saumendra from Pixabay)
The Festival Days
Good beginning’s with day One as the curtain-raiser with Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi. This year it will be on November 2, 2021. On this day, people purchase gold, silver, clothes and various gadgets as a sign of good luck and worship the God of Health and Ayurveda as dusk sets.
Lamps are lit for every individual in the family and ancestors and they are floated in a river or pond. Considering the state of the current year, let us invoke once again the Goddess of Health to bring prosperity for the mind and body.
Day Two (Wednesday, November 3, 2021), Naraka Chathurdasi also known as Choti Diwali or Small Diwali will be celebrated as a prelude to the main event. Mind over body to emote with happiness and content by waking up early in the morning followed by a ritualistic bathe in natural oils and herbal mix and change into clean clothes which later could have got interrupted to new clothes as an indulgence of happiness.
Street performances were popular during the Diwali season in India (Image by Bhupendra Singh from Pixabay)
Cities that do not sleep
Most cities in India do not sleep as the sound of the first crackers mark the joy of the day and not your daily rooster
Day Three (Thursday, November 4, 2021) which marks the significance of Lakshmi Pooja.
This is the day of main celebration of Diwali. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day, with Good Earth as the theme. Lamps are lit using earthen clay and floor decorations with rice flour to feed the ants and make the rituals a reason to be human.
Families exchange gifts and sweets and celebrate the evening together with laughter, joy and prayer. Did overtime the greed for wealth over health dim the real purpose and reason to celebrate?
The Govardhan Connection
Fourth Day (Friday, November 5, 2021) is marked with Govardhan Pooja, with the Festival celebrated as a mark of gratitude to Lord Krishna.
Rites are performed for cows and it is a very auspicious day, particularly in Assam.
This stirs a thought as to how rituals always included a pet and in this case a Govardhan or Cow. An animal much loved and cared for in good times and bad times to feed the family and help in commerce by selling the milk and its produce.
Therefore, the Holy cow is revered not as a religion but as a humanising element. This ritual is a payback gratitude time to Lord Krishna and his pet (the Govardhan) by devotees thanking the provider in the past, present and the future.
For the final, Fifth day (Saturday, November 6, 2021) is a grand finale as Bhaiya Dooj, a day dedicated to brothers and sisters.
According to a legend, Yamaraj, the God of Death, visited his sister Yamuna on this day and hence it is called Bhayyaduj, Yama-Dwitiya or Bhathru Dwithiya. This could be a day to bond with other members of the family and celebrate.
Let there be light, more light!
Diwali the Festival of Lights to bring the spirit of joy, happiness and prosperity.
Diwali in true sense, is the Festival of unity in diversity.
Let us fight the pandemic evil of Covid with vaccinations and let the different Avatar of God the Almighty bring us people together as humans inspite of religious, cultural, social or geographical barriers.
Bubbles are virtual but we are real. Connect with your heart and mind in Aotearoa and beyond for there is lights at the end of the pandemic tunnel
As Martin Luther King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
I wish you and your family a Very Happy Diwali.
Mallika Janakiraman is a Nutritionist by qualification and profession and has worked in multinationals such as PepsiCo and Nestle. She was also engaged in Social Media Marketing at Unitec. She lives in Auckland.
