Deepavali
is a celebration that began in India, 4000 years ago, ‘Dipa’ means light or lamp in Sanskrit and
‘avali’ is line or row,
For the Hindus in the South the festival is in the seventh month of Aipasi,
Falling between mid October and November,
the days are cool and breezy.
Diwali,
Divali, Deepaboli, Deepabali are used in various regions and culture,
The people's languages may be different but the reason for celebrating is similar,
A triumph of good over evil and darkness being banished like the night,
A feeling of happiness within set free, with rows
of lamps ushering light.
The
stories are varied, yet the heroic deeds in the scenes
are the same,
Whether Gods or Goddesses, men or women, it’s their anger set aflame,
By the cruel actions of evil men, demons or beasts wandering the earth,
So with valor did they seek to destroy evil; that man need not be hurt.
From
the North is the tale of Lord Rama and his beautiful
wife, Sita,
Who was carried away to a land across the sea by a king called Ravana,
When Rama returned to his homeland after killing the demon-man,
His people welcomed him by lighting their houses with rows of clay lamps.
The
story of the demon, Narakasura, and his terrible strength
takes the stage,
He so terrorized the three worlds that Lord Krishna, in a battle, with him, engaged,
After Krishna triumphed with his wife’s help, he was cleansed with an oil bath,
So a believer on this auspicious day rubs oil on his body at sunrise for a clean start.
A
tragedy unfolds in King Bali’s story, a generous king
yet ambitious his ways,
The Supreme God, Vishnu was asked to curb his powers and earthly days,
Appearing as a dwarf in priestly garb, Lord Vishnu put the king to a test,
After losing the ‘three strides’ bet, he was sent to the underworld to take his rest.
On
such a day, veneration is given to the Goddess of
Fortune, Mother Lakshmi,
For this is when she emerges from the milky ocean bearing wealth and prosperity,
Prayer and worship are offered in the evening, and delicacies are sweet and tasty,
Vegetarian food is a must adhered to by devotees; they partake of it in filial piety.
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Buddhists too commemorate the conversion
of King Asoka during this time,
While
Jains remember Lord Mahavira
It
was during early Indus Civilization that Diwali was first
celebrated by farmers of old,
Image Source :
http://vishnu108.deviantart.com/VISHNU
A triumph of good over evil and darkness being banished like the night,
A feeling of happiness within set free, with rows
of lamps ushering light.
The
stories are varied, yet the heroic deeds in the scenes
are the same, Whether Gods or Goddesses, men or women, it’s their anger set aflame,
By the cruel actions of evil men, demons or beasts wandering the earth,
So with valor did they seek to destroy evil; that man need not be hurt.
From
the North is the tale of Lord Rama and his beautiful
wife, Sita,Who was carried away to a land across the sea by a king called Ravana,
When Rama returned to his homeland after killing the demon-man,
His people welcomed him by lighting their houses with rows of clay lamps.
He so terrorized the three worlds that Lord Krishna, in a battle, with him, engaged,
After Krishna triumphed with his wife’s help, he was cleansed with an oil bath,
So a believer on this auspicious day rubs oil on his body at sunrise for a clean start.
A
tragedy unfolds in King Bali’s story, a generous king
yet ambitious his ways, The Supreme God, Vishnu was asked to curb his powers and earthly days,
Appearing as a dwarf in priestly garb, Lord Vishnu put the king to a test,
After losing the ‘three strides’ bet, he was sent to the underworld to take his rest.
For this is when she emerges from the milky ocean bearing wealth and prosperity,
Prayer and worship are offered in the evening, and delicacies are sweet and tasty,
Vegetarian food is a must adhered to by devotees; they partake of it in filial piety.
Buddhists too commemorate the conversion
of King Asoka during this time,
who attained Nirvana
in truth sublime,
Sikhs
rejoice at the release of their sixth Guru,
Har Gobind
Ji as ‘The Day of Liberation’,
His
freedom coincided with the festivities
and his followers were full of jubilation.
It
was during early Indus Civilization that Diwali was first
celebrated by farmers of old,
For
their bountiful harvest they gave praise to a God before
the days turned cold,
Now,
the past is revered and worshiped; the present is
a time for families and friends,
And
on the darkest night of autumn,
in the flames of the
lamps, love transcends.
in the flames of the
lamps, love transcends.
27
Sept 2014
(The Indus Civilization began in
the northern parts of India 5000 years ago. Hinduism
is the oldest surviving religion in the world.)
Image Source :
http://vishnu108.deviantart.com/VISHNU
