Diwali – The Festival of Lights

Dīpāvalī festival is also observed as the New Year Day of the Hindu Calendar.

Deepavali means a row of lamps or lamps arranged in a line or format. On this day, people light up many deepas or diyas and offer them to Lord Krishna and then place them in rows outside of the house or premises. Dīpāvalī festival is also observed as the New Year Day of the Hindu Calendar.

Why celebrate Deepavali :

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There are two major events happened on this day historically –

1. Lord Rama Chandra returns to the City of Ayodhya after killing Ravana and ascended to the Throne: Srimad Bhagavatam while describing the return of Lord Ramachandra, mentions “Thereafter, having been welcomed by His brother Bharata, Lord Rāmacandra entered the city of Ayodhyā in the midst of a festival.”

This festival is continuing to date as Deepavali! The citizens of Ayodhya were so enthralled by the arrival of Lord Ramachandra that it is as if they regained their consciousness after a deep slumber. They welcomed the Lord into the city by profuse decorations in all the lanes, Rangoli paintings in front of houses,

keeping auspicious banana plantations in street corners, and other types of auspicious markings suitable for welcoming the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Ramachandra.

When Lord Rāmachandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the King of this world, all bodily and mental suffering, disease, old age, bereavement, lamentation, distress, fear and fatigue were completely absent. There was even no death for those who did not want it. (SB 9.10.53). That is what is famously called Rama Rajya.

Lord Ramachandra appeared in the age of Treta Yuga. That means Deepavali tradition has existed in this world for lakhs of years! Because of Guru-Shishya paramparas, the tradition is kept alive till to date.

2. Damodara Lila – Little Krishna was tied to a grinding mortar by His mother as Krishna became naughty:

Damodara is one more name of Krishna. Little Krishna received the name Damodara by allowing His mother Yashoda to bind Him to a wooden mortar with a rope. Dama means rope and Udara means stomach. Damodars refers to Krishna with a rope around his little stomach.

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, quoting from the Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī of Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, says that the incident of Kṛṣṇa’s breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by mother Yaśodā took place on the Dīpāvalī Day, or Dīpa-mālikā. Even today in India, this festival is generally celebrated very gorgeously in the month of Kārtika by fireworks and lights. This festival is so popular now that it is celebrated throughout the planet without discrimination.

Message of Deepavali :

All festivals are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna or Lord Ramachandra. By celebrating Lord’s connection, one benefits from these celebrations immensely. When people celebrate Deepavali with proper understanding of the festival then they reap the benefits spiritually and develop attachment to Lord’s leelas.

How to celebrate Deepavali:

*Offer a ghee lamp to Yashoda Damodara and place numerous such lamps in front of the house in a beautiful arrangement.

* Celebrate the ascent of Lord Ramachandra to the throne of Ayodhya by bursting crackers, and lighting many lights and lamps.

* One can draw the Rangolis in front of the house after cleaning it. The Rangoli can have auspicious marks like lotuses, peacock feathers, flute, etc.

* Offer nice sweets made of milk, butter, ghee to Lord Krishna and then share and distribute to all the family members, relatives and neighbours. This Prasadam distribution is very pleasing to Lord Krishna.

* One can wear new clothes and exchange gifts after offering them to Lord Krishna.

* One can purchase Gold and new utensils for the pleasure of the Lord.

– Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhu (M.Tech, IIT Chennai)

President, Hare Krishna Movement, Hyderabad, and Regional President, Akshaya Patra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.