Diwali/Dipawali in Sanskrit means "the row of lights" that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. Diwali is the national festival of India. Diwali signifies the renewal of life. Homes are thoroughly cleaned and even painted on Diwali.
In north India, Diwali marks the celebration of Lord Rama's return from the fourteen years of exile to Ayodhya after the killing of Ravana, the demon kind of Lanka. Diwali is celebrated with the pooja of goddess Laxmi.
In South India, Diwali commemorates the victory of the divine over the mundane.
For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of Moksha by Lord Mahavira.
In Nepal Diwali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakaasura.
In Bengal, Diwali is celebrated with the pooja of goddess Kali.
Sikhs celebrate Diwali as the day when the sixth Guru, Guru Har Govind ji came returned from the captivity of the fort of Gwalior city. Also, Diwali marks the anniversary of the foundation stone ceremony of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, which was laid on the Diwali day in 1577.
Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra.
Diwali is not only festival of lights, but also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.
Diwali 2007 - November 9th:
Laxmi Puja, or the worship ceremony of the goddess of prosperity and wealth, is the main event on Diwali in North and West India. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi visits everyone during Diwali and brings peace, financial gains, happiness and prosperity to all.
Goddess Lakshmi likes cleanliness and hygiene, and she visits the beautiful and the cleanest house first, therefore it is extremely important to keep the house spotlessly clean and pure on Diwali. Hence the reason that the broom and cleaning tools are worshipped on this day with offerings of haldi and kumkum (turmeric and vermilion). Diyas/Lamps are lit in the evening within and outside the house to welcome the goddess Laxmi. They are believed to light up Her path to the house and worship is performed to appease the Goddess Laxmi to stay in the house for the next year.
The Ceremony of the Goddess Laxmi Puja/worship on Diwali:
On the night of Diwali the mahanisha or maharatri, "The Goddess Laxmi-Puja/worship" is performed traditionally after sunset in all the homes. In Laxmi puja/worship, the focus is on the Lord Ganesha and the 3 forms Goddess Laxmi.
In India, all auspicious rituals and worships begin with the worship of Lord Ganesha. As Lord Ganesha is Vighnaharta, the deity of remover of obstacles; The Goddess Laxmi - is worshipped in her three forms - Mahalakshmi (the goddess of wealth and money), Mahasaraswati (the goddess of education and wisdom), and Mahakali (The Goddess of killing problems); And Kuber (the treasurer of the gods) is also worshipped.
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