Diwali
Diwali is a beautiful time to be in India. Homes are cleaned to make a good space 'sukham' for Lakshmi to come into and bless the homestead with her wealth. Lakshmi being not only the goddess representation but also: lakṣ – meaning "to perceive, observe, know, understand”. So Lakshmi as a word can be better understood as knowing ones role and duty in life so that wealth is provided for such to happen. Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
DAY ONE: People clean their homes and shop for gold or kitchen utensils to help bring good fortune.
DAY TWO: People decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand.
DAY THREE: On the main day of the festival, families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities.
DAY FOUR: This is the first day of the new year, when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season.
DAY FIVE: Brothers visit their married sisters, who welcome them with love and a lavish meal.
During this week long celebration there are also specific aspects for Lakshmi are celebrated and honored. There are 8 types of wealth in the Vedic system:
- Adi Lakshmi (Primary wealth)
- Dhana Lakshmi (Monetary wealth)
- Dhanya Lakshmi (Wealth of Grains):
- Veera Lakshmi (Wealth of Courage)
- Gaja Lakshmi (wealth of power and prestige)
- Santana Lakshmi (wealth of offspring)
- Aishwarya Lakshmi (Wealth of affluence and endowment)
- Vijaya Lakshmi (Wealth of victory)
In northern India, the lighting rows of clay lamps is in celebration of King Rama's return to Ayodhya after having defeated Ravana, his evil brother. This war represents the overturn of pain, sorrow, adharma, and darkness by the strength and power of love, dharma and devotion. It is light winning over dark.
Seven of my nine trips to India were during this time of year. I was so blessed to experience this festival of lights as an outsider at first and then eventually invited into my landlord’s family home to be part of the celebration. The care, structured and devoted prayer time, the love gone into all the details of this festival was so wonderful and inspiring to watch. Not to mention the incessant party like excitement, the fireworks, and the explosions of light and sound all around throughout the week. Not much sleep happening during this time.
Diwali is celebrated in October, but its value and meaning can be carried into any day of or life. As we navigate our own holidays may you take some of these concepts into your homes and hearts.