WHEN IS DIWALI IN THE YEAR 2023?
DIWALI is celebrated on the Dark Moon – AMAVASYA night of the Kartik month.
In 2023, it will be on 12th November.
WHY WE CELEBRATE DIWALI?
Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights and is celebrated as a welcome to Bhagwan Rama (Vishu Avatar), returning to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. During exile, he fought Ravana ( who had abducted his wife, Sita), killed him (Dussehra is celebrated on this day) and returned to Ayodhya after 20 days.
In some western parts of the country, DIWALI is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Lakshmi during Samudra Manthan. It is the day she wed Bhagwan Vishnu. As she is the Goddess of wealth, many business communities consider it the start of the next business year. In fact- the Indian Stock Market has a special MUHURAT TRADING SESSION on Diwali day.
In Kerala, people generally do not celebrate Diwali as the virtuous demon king, King Bali, was killed on this day.
A few od the southern states – instead of Diwali, people celebrate Naraka Chaturdashi a day before Diwali. This is also known as CHOTI DIWALI. This day, Bhagwan Krishna killed the demon king — Narakasura and freed thousands of girls in his captivity. Good winning over evil.
Some eastern parts of India celebrate and associate Diwali with Goddess Kali, again a reference to Good winning over evil. Symbolically, it is the winning of the INNER LIGHT ( spirituality and good values ) over the darkness outside.
SHUBH MUHURATS FOR PUJA.
Deepavali Lagna Puja on Sunday, November 12, 2023
Vrishabha Lagna Muhurat (evening) – 05:39 PM to 07:35 PM
Duration – 01 Hour 56 Mins
Simha Lagna Muhurat (midnight) – 12:10 AM to 02:27 AM, Nov 13
Duration – 02 Hours 17 Mins
Simha and Vrisabha lagna during the day are considered stable, and they are best for Diwali Lakshmi Pooja. Goddess Lakshmi is ACHAL, and she does not stay in one place; hence, her pooja is done during stable ( Shisthir- non-moving) lagna.
Amavasya. Tithi Begins – at 02:44 PM on November 12, 2023. Tithi Ends – 02:56 PM on November 13, 2023
As a country, we have one standard time, but we straddle many time zones, and the Muhurat time does differ from city to city. So do check your local Muhrat timing.
Diwali pooja is a series of different steps. It includes Atma Shodan (self-purification), Sankalp, Shanti Patha, Mangal Patha, Kalash Sthapan, Bhagwan Ganapati Pooja, Nav Grah Pooja, Shodasha Matrika Pooja, new Shri Lakshmi Pratima Pooja, maha Kali Pooja, Sarawati Poojan, Kuber Pooja, Deep Malika Pooja and Visharjan.
A full Diwali Pooja might take hours, and the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat might be too short. In that case, start Diwali Pooja so that the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat coincides. The rest of the pooja can continue beyond the Muhurat time. Families take extra care to ensure that the Lakshmi Deepak ( Diya) in the pooja remains lit throughout the night. You never know what time Ma Lakshmi comes to visit. It is also the reason that the decorative lights are kept on throughout the night.
HOW IS DIWALI CELEBRATED?
People clean up their houses and repaint Houses pre-Diwali. They draw floral or rice rangoli outside their main door. People do Lakshmi Pujan as per the Muhurat.
People make foot impressions from the main door of the house to the Pujasthal ( puja place) or the Money vault. They believe Goddess Lakshmi will follow the footmarks to their home and stay with them through the year.
People place Lit Diyas around the house and burst firecrackers. The day after Diwalim, people visit each other and exchange sweets.
The business community starts its new year and opens a new Bahi-khaatha (Books).
In many places, people consider Playing Card Games (Gambling) auspicious. In fact, people consider losing in card games ( teen pati) auspicious.
Jains celebrate Diwali as ‘Mahavira Nirvana Diwas’, the final Nirvana of Mahavira.
The Five day Diwali festival.
1st Day Of Diwali– Dhanteras.
The 13th lunar day of the Krishna Paksha, the dark quarter of the month of Karthik, and the first day of Diwali is celebrated as Dhanteras. It is said that Bhagwan Dhanwantari emerged from the sea during Samudra Manthan on this day. It is also considered the day of Ayurveda birth. People consider buying things like gold, silver, precious stones, ornaments, new clothing and utensils auspicious on this day. They worship Yama, the lord of death, by lighting one diya.
2nd Day Of Diwali – Choti Diwali
Also called Kali Chaudas or Narak Chaturdashi. Bhagwan Krishna killed Narakasur’s rakshasa on this day. In many parts of the country, people massage their bodies with oil. Traditionally, people do not light Diya this day and prefer not to leave the house.
3rd Day Of Diwali–Diwali Day
The day Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are worshipped, seeking prosperity and riches, They light diya and candles. Bursting of crackers is a practice that helps bind the community.
4th Day of Diwali– Vishwakarma Pooja
This is observed as Bestu Varas – the new year in Gujarat. Most of the country worships their instruments, arms and equipment as part of Vishwakarma pooja. As the professional equipment is worshipped, most establishments remain shut. Some places celebrate it as Govardhan Puja. Therefore, most or all businesses remain closed on this day.
5th Day of Diwali– Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj or Bhai Beej day. Yama (Yamraj, the Lord of Death) came to his sister Yamuna on this day and gave her a boon that the person who visited the sister that day would be free from all sins and attain moksha or ultimate liberation. This is the day when brothers visit sisters, unlike Rakshabandhan, when sisters visit brothers.
IGNORANT HINDU.
#IgnorantHindu is a project of collation of information on Indian festivals and God, episodes and incidents- and to share the same. Some of the festivals and episodes covered are Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Antim Sanskar, Yama- the lord of death, Baishakhi and Bihu, Holi, Makar Sankranti, Assthmangal Prasanam- the way of predicting future, Rahu-Ketu– the shadow planets, the 12 houses of horoscope, Maa Narmada Parikrama, Mahashivratri, Bhai Dooj, Navratri, Diwali, Dhanteras, Karva Chauth, Dussehra or Vijyadashmi, Ram Navami, Adhik Mass– the Hindu leap year and Shradh And Pitra Shrad.
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