CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS OF DEEPAVALI (Diwali)

Observance of the Deepavali (Diwali) festival varies from region to region. Deepavali also popularly called Diwali is celebrated for three to five days based on regional customs with each day of the festival referred to by unique name. Deepavali generally occurs during October-November every year starting from Aaswayuja Bahula Trayodasi and ending with Kartheeka Sukla Dwiteeya. Celebrations take place in the following order...

• Jala Poorna Trayodasi - Dhantera
• Naraka Chaturdasi
• Deepaavali (Amaavaasya)
• Bali Paadyami (Prathipada)
• Yama Dwiteeya (Bhagini Hastha Bhojana or Bhai Dhooj)

Some of the customs and traditions followed during the Deepavali festival are…

Jala Poorna Trayodasi (Neeru Thumbuva Habba) – Dhantera – Yama Deepa… (First day)

First day of the festival called Jala Poorna Trayodasi is celebrated on Aaswayuja Bahula Trayodasi (13th day of the dark fortnight). This day is also known as Dhantheras or Dhana Trayodasi as it is auspicious to buy Gold and Silver on this day.

In South India especially in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh we find people performing on this day Ganga Pooja after Sunset in the night by symbolically filling water (Neeru Thumbuva Habba) in a copper or brass vessel decorated with flowers and adding medicinal plant leaves to the water. The water with medicinal plant leaves soaked overnight is used on the next day while taking bath as it is said to have medicinal significance.

It is also believed that forefathers (Pitru Devathas) visit their houses on this day and as a mark of respect and invitation to them we find people lighting an oil lamp in front of their houses in the South direction that would please Yama Dharma Raja the Lord of Death. This is called Yama Deepa.

Naraka Chaturdasi (second day)…

Second day of the festival a day prior to Deepavali, called Naraka Chaturdasi is celebrated on Aaswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi (14thday of the dark fortnight). This day is celebrated commemorating the death of Demon King Narakasura at the hands of Lord Sri Krishna and his consort Sathyabhama Devi.

People undertake performing Aarathi (Naarikrutha Neerajana) to the members of the family on Naraka Chaturdasi day early in the morning at Moonrise time before taking bath.

It is a custom and mandatory to take oil bath on this day during Arunodaya Kaala. Lot of spiritual significance is given for oil bath on this day and it is said that even the sick and bedridden also should take this bath without fail. It is said that Lord Sri Krishna had taken oil bath on this day after killing Narakasura. Thil Oil (Sesame oil) should be used for the bath as it is said that Goddess Lakshmi resides in Thil oil on this day.

It is customary to take this bath early in the morning before sunrise when the stars are still visible. It is said that taking bath on this day as above is equivalent to taking bath in river Ganges. Worshipping Lord Sri Krishna and giving charity (Deepa Daana) on this day is highly auspicious and meritorious.

Wear new clothes on this day and take blessings from elders, distribute sweets and compliments to the friends and relatives. People from all walks of life fire crackers irrespective of the age. Parents invite their newly married daughter and son-in-law for the festival and facilitate them with gifts and compliments.

Yama Tharpanam (Naraka Chaturdasi)

Sacred scripts prescribe that after taking bath on Naraka Chaturdasi day all those who are eligible to offer Pithru tharpana should give Thila Tharpanam in the name of Yama Dharma Raja (God of Death) called Yama Tharpanam by reciting the following sloka containing 14 names of Lord Yama Dharma Raja.

Yamaaya; Dharmarajaya; Mruthyave; Chaantakayacha;
Vaivaswathaya; Kaalaaya; Sarva Bhootha Kshayayacha;
Audhumbaraya; Dhadnaya; Neelaya; Paramestine;
Vrukodaraya; Chitraya; Chitraguptayathe Namah

Facing South, Tharpana should be given with water and black sesame seeds (thila) with Yagnopaveetham in Savya position like Deva Tharpanam (Yama Dharma Raaja being a Devatha) by reciting each name in the above sloka by adding Namah.

For eg.. Yamaaya Namah–Yamam Tharpayami; Dharmarajaya Namah – Dharmarajam Tharpayami; etc…… 

It is said and believed that giving Yama tharpana on this day is highly meritorious and one will get relief from suffering in Naraka Loka - Naraka bhaya nivrutti. 

Scripts like Dharma Sindhu says that this Tharpana should be given by one and all irrespective of the fact whether father is alive or not. In case father is not alive it can be given in Savya/Apasavya position as said above. In case father is alive it should be given with water and rice with Yagnopaveetham in Savya position.

Deepaavali Amaavaasya (Third day)

Third day of the festival called Deepavali is celebrated on Aaswayuja Bahula Amavasya day (New Moon day). On this day we find people worshipping Goddess Lakshmi by offering special prayers and pooja. Performing Lakshmi pooja on this day is considered to be very auspicious and highly meritorious. Deepavali Amavasya is celebrated as the birth day of Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi and she is worshipped on this day by lighting lamps.

Reciting Sree Sooktham on this day at the time of Lakshmi Pooja is very sacred and meritorious. Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Deepavali day has attained lot of significance in Hindu religion especially in the states of Gujarat, Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. Businessmen among Marwari and Gujarati communities even open their new annual accounts on this day.

It is believed that Deepavali was the day when Lord Sri Rama returned to Ayodhya from his 14 years of exile along with his consort Goddess Seetha Devi and his brother Lakshmana and Rama’s coronation took place.

It is also further said that it was on this day Lord Sri Krishna had lifted the Govardhana Parvatha (hill) and protected the cowherds and cattle from the thunder and rain created by Lord Indra. Thus Lord Sri Krishna suppressed the pride and vanity of Lord Indra. This was the day when Lord Sri Krishna taught the people the need to respect and worship the Nature. 

Bali Paadyami (Fourth day)

It is a festival celebrated in memory of King Bali (Bali Chakravarthi) of Vamana Avathara. It occurs on the first day of Kartheeka Masam (Sukla Paksham), the day on which King Bali is said to have given charity to Lord Sri Vamana, was pushed to Nether worlds by Lord Trivikrama (Vamana) and was also amply rewarded by the Lord for his virtues. For more details about King Bali and Vamana Avathara please refer to the earlier posts. Worshiping Lord Sri Vamana on this day is very sacred and celestial. King Bali should be worshiped on this day with the following sloka and charity should be made on this day.

Baliraja Namasthubhyam Virochana Sutha Prabho

Bhavishyendra Suraarathe Poojeyam Prathigruhyathaam

Such charity would please Lord Vishnu very much. This day is considered to be very sacred and auspicious for giving charity and one will get multiple merits even if little charity is given in memory of King Bali.

Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi, Kubera (Divine Cashier), and Cow (Gomatha) on this day are also given lot of significance. A ritual called Govardhana Pooja is celebrated on this day by worshiping the sacred Cow (Go-Pooja)

Yama Dwiteeya (Fifth day)

Fifth and final day of the festival called Yama Dwiteeya is celebrated on Kartheeka Sukla Dwiteeya. It is so called because on this day it is said that, Lord Yama had taken his meals in the house of his sister Yamuna (Yamuna River) prepared and served by her. This is known as Bhagini Hastha Bhojana.

Since then it has become a custom and tradition on this day, for brothers to take food in the house of their sisters and sisters in turn worship their brothers and pray for their longevity. If one doesn’t have sisters, it is said that father’s sister should be worshipped on this day. It is believed and said that it will enhance the health, wealth and longevity of the brothers and in turn sisters will live as Sumangali forever. Generally gifts and compliments are exchanged on this occasion among brothers and sisters.

OTHER CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS OF DEEPAVALI...

It is customary to keep a lighted lamp called Aaakasa Deepa during Deepavali festival at an elevated spot like roof top of every house as a symbol of beacon of Heaven. This is generally continued for a period of one month.

During Diwali festival we find houses, shops & establishments, streets, heritage buildings and monuments decorated with lights and lamps. People light lamps called Diyas or Deepa or Deepam in earthen or clay pots filled with oil. Thil oil (Sesame seed oil) is generally used for lighting such lamps.

Some of the business communities especially Marwari, Gujarati and North Indian business communities start a new financial year and commence their new annual accounts on the Deepavali day.

It is believed and said that Vikrama Era had commenced from the day of Deepavali. New currency notes and coins are used for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on the Diwali day. People play dice on this day.

It is also a custom that we find, employers giving gifts in the form bonuses to their employees and Corporates giving gifts and compliments to their customers on the eve of Diwali.

We find on the day of Deepavali, Stock Exchanges performing a token bidding called Muhurat trading and do not make any payments on this day.

In West Bengal people worship Goddess Durga (Kali) during Deepavali festival. Jains celebrate Diwali marked as the Nirvana day of Mahaveer the founder of Jainism. Sikhs celebrate Diwali as the day of release of their 6th Guru Hargobind Sahib from the clutches of Mughal.

We find celebration of Diwali even abroad in countries like Nepal, Trinidad, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka etc… In Nepal and Sri Lanka it is considered as a National festival.

Rarity of this festival is that it is celebrated in the night unlike other festivals which are generally celebrated in the day time. We find this festival being celebrated even among Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists apart from Hindus. Diwali is a time of the year when families, friends and communities come together in a spirit of celebration and joy.

Happy Deepavali (Diwali)

nirikhi krishna bhagavan 

(bhargavasarma)