Diwali 2023: Festival Date, History, Puja Vidhi, Importance

Diwali festival is one of the most famous, awaited, bright, and colorful festivals in Hinduism. The Diwali festival is full of lights. Diwali is also known as Deepavali and is celebrated for 4 to 5 days. The Deepavali festival signifies the triumph of good over evil. The word meaning of Deepavali is Deep means light, and Avali means a row. Behind the celebration of Diwali festival, it has one own story, that is the king Rama and Sita returning to their kingdom from exile after defeating of evil Ravana. So, the people in Lord Rama’s kingdom, they used to light the lamps and Diya’s to welcome them. So, that day onwards, South and North Indian people started to celebrate this Diwali festival. It is a festival of lights, that is these lights remove darkness and welcomes light. Diwali celebration is very famous in India.

Diwali:

The Diwali festival is celebrated for five days. According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, the festival falls in October or November, it depends on the moon cycle. In India, in many places, Diwali celebrations are done on the third day. During those days mainly Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped. In 2023 Diwali is celebrated from the date October 21st to 26th.

The First Day: The first day, is known as Dhanteras. This day celebrated for prosperity. On this day, Lakshmi welcomes special pujas. Dhanvantari is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, so, on this day Ayurvedic doctors also honor. Lord Vishnu brought Dhanvantari as Ayurveda to mankind on this day.

The Second Day: The second day is known as Naraka Chaturdashi. It is also known as a small Diwali. On this day it is believed, Goddess Kali has defeated the demon Narakasura.

The Third Day: The third day is a new moon day or Amavasya. This is the very darkest day in that month, and the most important day of Diwali in North and West India. On this day, Goddess Lakshmi worshiped with a special puja in the evening. In Assam, Odisha, and West Bengal Goddess Kali can worship.

The Fourth Day: This day has different meanings over India. In North India, it is celebrated as Govardhana puja, because on that day Lord Krishna defeated Indra, he is the god of rain and thunder. In Gujarat, it is celebrated as the new year. Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, the triumph of Lord Vishnu over demon king Bali, and it is celebrated as Bali Padyami.

The Fifth Day: The fifth day, is called Bhai Duj. It is similar to Raksha Bandhan, this day, dedicated to sisters and brothers.

Diwali 2023 Date, Time & Tithi:

History of Diwali Festival

Diwali is a famous worldwide celebrated festival. Behind the celebration of the Diwali festival, there are many stories. The most well-known story behind Diwali is in Bhagavata Purana, it tells us about Narakasura. He is an evil demon king, he has many powers and conquered both heaven and earth. The demon king is a very cruel and horrific ruler. It is believed on the day before Diwali, Kali Mata killed demon king Narakasura and saved many women whom the evil demon locked in his place. The heaven and the people on earth relieved from the demon. So, they celebrated the festival with very grandly, a tradition that is trusted to be alive through the yearly celebration of Deepavali.

According to other ancient scriptures, long ago for the gods and demons had a battle, in that battle gods lost. At that time to save heaven and earth, from the cruel demons, Goddess Kali took the birth from Goddess Durga Mata’s forehead. After killing all demons, Goddess Kali lost her control and then started killing who are came to stop her. At that time Lord Shiva went to stop her, she steps on lord shiva. Generally, we are seeing many pictures of Maa Kali, with a big tongue and she steps on lord shiva. So, for this reason, every year Maa Kali puja celebrated on Diwali festival.

Diwali Puja Vidhi

1. During the Diwali festival, house cleaning is very important. After cleaning of the entire house, to purify the house sprinkle Gangajal to the surroundings.
2. Set up a Puja Mandir, in your puja room or living room, keep one table and spread a red cotton cloth on it, then keep grains in the center of the table.
3. Then place a silver or bronze Kalasha in the middle of grains. Fill the Kalasha with water, betel nuts, mango leaves, marigold flower, coins, and grains. Place mango leaves in a circular shape in the Kalasha.
4. On the right side of the Kalasha, place the idols of Goddess Lakshmi and God Ganesha. Then take one small puja thali and make one flat mountain with the help of rice grains, and draw one lotus flower with turmeric powder, put some coins and place it in front of the idols.
5. Then place business and money related books and items in front of the idols.
6. Apply the tilak to the deities Lakshmi, Ganesha, and Kalasha.
7. Then offer some flowers to the deities, and keep some flowers with you for prayer.
8. Keep flowers in your palm, close your eyes, and join your hands to recite Diwali puja mantra. After finishing prayer offer flowers to the deities.
9. Take Goddess Lakshmi idols and do bath it with water, Panchamrit followed by water. Then clean it with cloth, place it in the backside of the Kalasha.
10. Put turmeric powder, kumkum to the goddess Lakshmi idol. And offer the garland to the goddess Lakshmi’s neck. Then burn Agarbatti and Dhoop in front of the idols.
11. Then offer coconut, fruits, sweets, supari, pan leaf, coins to the goddess. Put it in front of idols.
12. Then finally take one Diya in Puja Thali, Ghanta, and perform Lakshmi Maa puja Arthi.

Importance of Diwali

Diwali means a row of lights. Diwali is a great olden Hindu festival. It celebrates with great happiness, splendor, as well as the entire Nation illuminated with colorful rangolis, Diwali lights,and plenty of firecrackers. Three religions Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism peoples celebrate this Diwali festival. The Deepavali festival signifies the triumph of good over evil and the truth and knowledge. It is celebrated for five days, each day has a specific story. This Diwali festival has various legends. On this day, Lakshmi puja performed. In the evening of the Diwali day, Goddess Kali also worshiped, people light Diyas, candles, and burn firecrackers throughout the night. It is a festival of lights, the main significance behind the Diwali lights is to remove the darkness and welcomes light.

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