Dear Kenna,

I got the following article about Deepvali (or Diwali) from one of Mother's
web sites, though I don't know which one:

Deepavali - The Festival of Light
India is a land of festivals where you will see at least one major festival
each month. Deepavali which literally means rows of lamps is one of the four
main festivals of India. Throughout the world all Hindus celebrate Deepavali
or Diwali with great pomp and enthusiasm.

In India festivals are not just days for festivities. The tradition has been
so molded by the sages of yore that these festivals contribute to the
physical, material and spiritual upliftment of mankind. Festivals are marked
by certain observances, like fasting, oil massages before bath, doing
particular pujas and abstinence, etc. In the Indian tradition all your needs,
be it at a totally gross level is channelised through the Divine. So if you
want to have material prosperity you worship Lakshmi Devi - the Goddess of
Prosperity; if you want knowledge you worship Saraswati Devi - the Goddess of
Learning and so on. Though the Hindus basically believe in one Supreme Divine
Entity, to meet the differing needs and mindsets of different people the
different aspects of the Supreme are worshipped as different Gods and
Goddesses.

The celebration of Diwali lasts six days, beginning on the 12th day of the
month of Kartik (as per the North Indian lunar calendar). The day before
Diwali, in order to evoke the grace of God, women fast. It is not that God
wants you to go hungry or takes pleasure in your suffering - the principle is
that you gain only by giving up. That evening, devotees worship Gomata (the
cow) and her calf and feed them special food. Women pray for the welfare of
the entire family. This holy day is called Vasubaras.

The first official day of Diwali falls on the 13th of Kartik. People set
about cleaning houses and shops, and decorating doorsteps and courtyards with
rangoli or multicolored designs. They purchase gold ornaments, new vessels,
clothes, and other such items. Devotees arise early in the morning before
sunrise and take oil baths. If possible, they wear new clothes. In the
evening, people worship coins representing wealth. Houses and courtyards glow
from the lights, and families decorate with lanterns. This day of celebration
is called Dhantrayodashi or Dhanteras.

The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi. People take an oil bath in the
early morning and then in the night they light lamps and burn firecrackers.
People visit their relatives and friends, exchanging love and sweets.

On the third day, people worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. People
decorate their houses with lit lamps and lanterns to welcome Lakshmi to their
home and hearts. On this day businessmen close old accounts and open new
accounts. The earth is lit up by lamps and the skies are colored by the
multihued of fireworks.

In North India, the Govardhan Puja occurs on the fourth day of Diwali.
Devotees in the North build hillocks made of cow dung, symbolizing Govardhan,
and decorate and worship them. North Indians observe this day as Annakoot, or
the mountain of food.

The fifth day of the festival called Bhaiyya Dooj celebrates unique and fun
customs. Every man dines in his sister's house, and, in return, presents her
with gifts. North India calls it Yama Dwitiya. Thousands of brothers and
sisters join hands and have a sacred bath in the river Yamuna.

The legends
Dhanteras
The scriptures mention the divinity called Dhanvantari emerging from the
churning of the ocean with a kalash (pot) filled with Amrit (ambrosia). Due
to the fact that Dhanvantari, who revealed the science of Ayurveda to the
world, first manifested on this day, all over India, doctors following the
Ayurvedic system of medicine organize joyful celebrations of the annual
Dhanvantari festival.

Naraka ChaturdashChaturdashii
There is legend about a king of Prag-Jyotishpur, named Narakasura A powerful
king who misused power to harass his subjects. Sri Krishna destroyed this
oppressive asura king on this day. Unjustly imprisoned people celebrated
their freedom with friends and family. The citizens celebrated deliverance
from Narkasura`s reign by lighting lamps.
Sri Rama

Deepavali falls on a no-moon day - in fact the darkest day of the year. The
illuminations and fireworks, joy and festivities, are to signify the victory
of divine forces over the powers of darkness. On Deepavali day, triumphant
Sri Rama is said to have returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the
asura king of Lanka.

Goddess Lakshmi Devi
The Puranas say that it was on this day that Goddess Lakshmi, who emerged
from the churning of the ocean of milk, married Lord Vishnu, the repository
of all divine qualities.

Govardhana Puja
In order to shelter the gopis and gopas and their cows from the torrential
rains sent by Indra, Krishna lifted a hill near Mathura called Govardhan with
his finger and sheltered all the people for a period of seven days under it.
By then Indra Krishna's greatness and asked him for forgiveness.

Bhaiyya Dooj
The river Yamuna and Yama the God of Death were brother and sister. As they
grow up they go their different ways. On this day Yama, supposedly visited
his sister Yamuna, who in her joy at seeing her brother after such a long
interlude set up a feast for him. Pleased, Yama granted her a boon. He
declared that every man that receives a tilak or vermilion mark on the
forehead from his sister and presents her with lovely gifts on this day would
attain higher worlds.

The message of Deepavali
The traditional name of India is Bharata and Indians are Bharatias - or those
who revel in light. During the night of Deepavali the myriad little clay
lamps (diyas) seem to silently send forth Deepavali message: "Come let us
remove darkness from the face of the earth."

The dharma of the fire is the same wherever it is: in a poor mans house, in a
rich man's house, in America, in Antarctica, or in the Himalayas. It gives
light and heat. The flame of the light is always turned up. Even if we keep
the lamp upside down, the flame will burn upwards. The message is that our
mind should be focused on Atman, the Self wherever we are. The lamps remind
us of our dharma of realizing our divine nature.

"The Self is self luminous being pure Consciousness. The cognition of all
objects arises from the light of pure Consciousness." -says Bhrihadaranyaka
Upanishad

One lamp can light several others. You can light another thousand of lamps.
Still the flame and the light of the first lamp will remain as it is. It
loses nothing. By becoming manifold, the light gains nothing. The lights of
Deepavali represent Brahman and the creation. It conveys the message of the
mantra:
"Poornamada: Poornamidam Poornaat poornamudachyate
Poornasya Poornamadaya Poornamevasishyate"

The rows of lamps teach yet another important lesson and that is of unity.
The light that shines forth from the Sun, the moon, the stars, the fire is
all the same. To see and recognize that one light, the light of
consciousness, which is manifesting and pulsating in and through all of
creation is the goal of life. Thus recognizing all of creation to be an
expression of your true Self spread the light of love and compassion.

The lights of Deepavali are displayed at the entrance doors, by the walls of
houses, in the streets and lanes. This means that the inner spiritual light
of the individual must be reflected outside. It should benefit the society.
Passersby may thereby be prevented from stumbling on their way to reach their
destination.

Feeding empty stomachs, lighting blown-out diyas and bringing light to the
those whose lives are in darkness is the true spirit of Deepavali. This is
true prayer.



Jai Ma!
Vaishnavi