Renewal and fresh beginnings, good combatting evil, strengthening bonds with family, friends and the community, and reflecting on personal and spiritual growth - these are just a few of the focuses of Diwali.
Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the clay lamps that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.
Adarsh Raveendran, President of the India Association of Nashville says that “Diwali is a universal festival that welcomes everyone, regardless of background or beliefs. It promotes values such as unity, harmony, joy and gratitude.” Raveendran continues, “The origins of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, with mentions in Hindu scriptures like the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a festival that blends regional and cultural traditions.”
Diwali is celebrated across Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. In Hinduism, Diwali celebrates Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The people welcomed him with rows of lit lamps (diyas), symbolizing good triumphing over evil. In Jainism, Diwali marks the day Lord Mahavira, the last Jain Tirthankara (spiritual leader), attained enlightenment. In Sikhism, Diwali commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Singh, the sixth Sikh Guru, from imprisonment.
Raveendran adds, “If you have ever attended a Diwali celebration, you will find that Diwali is a vibrant and joyful festival that is often referred to as the 'Festival of Lights.' Diwali is all about celebrating the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Though traditions differ among religions, the core message is the same.”
Diwali is celebrated over five days. On day one, people typically clean their homes and shop for gold or kitchen utensils to help bring good fortune. Raveendran says “Wearing new clothes and jewelry is common.” Lighting diyas and candles is another tradition, which is done on the second day. People decorate their homes and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand. Day three, the main day of the festival, is marked with “gathering for festive meals, fireworks and sparklers and worshipping deities, particularly Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity,” says Raveendran. Day four is seen as the first day of the new year and is a time when friends and relatives visit and “exchange gifts and sweets with loved ones,” Raveendran says. The fifth and final day is the time when brothers visit their married sisters and have a meal together.
Raveendran says the entire five-day celebration is filled with “worshipping, enjoying music, dance and cultural performances.” Whether Diwali is a holiday that you observe every year, or is a festival that you have never had the opportunity to enjoy, visit Iantn.org/diwali for celebration opportunities.