Diwali (also spelled Devali in certain regions) or Deepavali,[note 1] popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five day festival which starts on Dhanteras(Dhantrayodashi), celebrated on thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on second lunar day of Shukla paksha (bright fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali is an official holiday in India,[1]Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji. For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. ForJains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BCE.[2][3]Arya Samajists, celebrate this day as Death Anniversary of Swami DayanandSaraswati. They also celebrate this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti. The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvalī), which translates into "row of lamps".[4] Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (dīpa in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil.[5] These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.[6]Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits.[7][8][9] During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival is called the Naraka Chaturdasi. Amavasya, the third day of Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The fourth day of Diwali is known as Kartika Shudda Padyami. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
Jainism
Diwali has a very special significance in Jainism. It is celebrated as Deva Devali around the full moon day (Purnima) of Kartik. Lord Mahavira, the last of the JainTirthankar of this era, attained Nirvana or Moksh on this day at Pavapuri on Oct. 15, 527 BCE, on Chaturdashi of Kartika, as Tilyapannatti of Yativrashaba from the sixth century states: Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of this era, revitalised Jainism Dharma followed by Jains even today. Though few outdated history books still mention that he established Jainism. According to tradition, the chief disciple of Mahavira, Ganadhara Gautam Swami also attained complete knowledge (Kevalgyana) on this day, thus making Diwali one of the most important Jain festivals. Mahavira attained his nirvana at the dawn of the amavasya (new moon). According to the Kalpasutra by AcharyaBhadrabahu, 3rd century BCE, many gods were present there, illuminating the darkness.[11] The following night was pitch black without the light of the gods or the moon. To symbolically keep the light of their master's knowledge alive:
16 Gana-kings, 9 Malla and 9 Lichchhavi, of Kasi and Kosal, illuminated their doors. They said: "Since the light of knowledge is gone, we will make light of ordinary matter" ("गये से भवुज्जोये, दव्वुज्जोयं करिस्समो").
Dipavali was mentioned in Jain books as the date of the nirvana of Mahavira. In fact, the oldest reference to Diwali is a related word, dipalikaya, which occurs in Harivamsha-Purana, written by Acharya Jinasena[12] and composed in the Shaka Samvat era in the year 705.
Translation: The gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra (i.e. Lord Mahavira) on the occasion of his nirvana.
Dipalikaya roughly translates as "light leaving the body". Dipalika, which can be roughly translated as "splendiferous light of lamps", is used interchangeably with the word "Diwali". Vira Nirvana Samvat: The Jain year starts with Pratipada following Diwali. Vira Nirvana Samvat 2534 starts with Diwali 2007. The Jain business people traditionally started their accounting year from Diwali. The relationship between the Vir and Shaka era is given in Titthogali Painnaya and Dhavalaa[13] by Acharya Virasena: पंच य मासा पंच य वास छच्चेव होन्ति वाससया| परिणिव्वुअस्स अरिहितो तो उप्पन्नो सगो राया|| Thus the Nirvana occurred 605 years and 5 months before the Saka era. On 21 October 1974 the 2500th Nirvana Mahotsava was celebrated by the Jains throughout India.[3] Sikhism
Devotees of the sikh faith celebrate Diwali during between the end of October and the middle of November, the celebration of Diwali is celebrated by sikhs because it rejoices the time when the sixth sikh guru, Guru Hargobind singh was released from his imprisonment. The Sikh Diwali consists of many differentiated practises such as the reading of the Sikh holy scripture the Guru Granth sahib at the holiest sikh shrine Amritsar in the Punjab regions of India. Sikh families all get together to share a Vegetarian meal to give respect to animals and man alike. To make the crescendo of the joyous festival of lights fireworks are released into the air which represnts freedom. Arya Samaj
The founder of Arya Samaj Swami Dayanand had died on Kartik Amawasya (30 October 1883). Followers of Arya Samaj celebrate Rishi Nirvanotsav as his Death Anniversary on this Day. Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti is also celebrated by Arya Samaj Community as welcome of winter Season. Special Yagya is performed by them chanting Vedic Mantras. Buddhism
While not a large occasion for the Buddhist community, Newar Buddhists celebrate Diwali through the chanting of mantras and remembering Emperor Ashoka who is said to have converted to Buddhism on this day, and therefore Buddhists also know the festival as Ashok Vijayadashami. Their temples and monasteries are well decorated during this time and the Buddha is worshipped with full honours. While Diwali is not considered a major holiday in East Asia or in most of the Mahayana schools of East Asian Buddhism, the lunar calendar birthday of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha (whose healing aspect is often in the form of burning lights) is commemorated coincidentally around the time of Diwali.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Years Diwali: November 13, 2012 - November 17, 2012
So how are you celebrating Diwali? Also to those who don't celebrate it, Happy Diwali to you also!
Since i'm heavily Punjabi-tradition influenced, for Day 1 we are going to light the lamps. I'll try to make my mom go to my friends house for a celebration.
~Happy Diwali~
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From Wikipedia:
Diwali (also spelled Devali in certain regions) or Deepavali,[note 1] popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five day festival which starts on Dhanteras(Dhantrayodashi), celebrated on thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on second lunar day of Shukla paksha (bright fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali is an official holiday in India,[1] Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.
For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. ForJains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BCE.[2][3] Arya Samajists, celebrate this day as Death Anniversary of Swami DayanandSaraswati. They also celebrate this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.
The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvalī), which translates into "row of lamps".[4] Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (dīpa in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil.[5] These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.[6] Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits.[7][8][9] During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.
The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year. The second day of the festival is called the Naraka Chaturdasi. Amavasya, the third day of Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The fourth day of Diwali is known as Kartika Shudda Padyami. The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.
Jainism
Diwali has a very special significance in Jainism. It is celebrated as Deva Devali around the full moon day (Purnima) of Kartik. Lord Mahavira, the last of the JainTirthankar of this era, attained Nirvana or Moksh on this day at Pavapuri on Oct. 15, 527 BCE, on Chaturdashi of Kartika, as Tilyapannatti of Yativrashaba from the sixth century states: Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of this era, revitalised Jainism Dharma followed by Jains even today. Though few outdated history books still mention that he established Jainism. According to tradition, the chief disciple of Mahavira, Ganadhara Gautam Swami also attained complete knowledge (Kevalgyana) on this day, thus making Diwali one of the most important Jain festivals.
Mahavira attained his nirvana at the dawn of the amavasya (new moon). According to the Kalpasutra by Acharya Bhadrabahu, 3rd century BCE, many gods were present there, illuminating the darkness.[11] The following night was pitch black without the light of the gods or the moon. To symbolically keep the light of their master's knowledge alive:
16 Gana-kings, 9 Malla and 9 Lichchhavi, of Kasi and Kosal, illuminated their doors. They said: "Since the light of knowledge is gone, we will make light of ordinary matter" ("गये से भवुज्जोये, दव्वुज्जोयं करिस्समो").
Dipavali was mentioned in Jain books as the date of the nirvana of Mahavira. In fact, the oldest reference to Diwali is a related word, dipalikaya, which occurs in Harivamsha-Purana, written by Acharya Jinasena[12] and composed in the Shaka Samvat era in the year 705.
ततस्तुः लोकः प्रतिवर्षमादरत् प्रसिद्धदीपलिकयात्र भारते |
समुद्यतः पूजयितुं जिनेश्वरं जिनेन्द्र-निर्वाण विभूति-भक्तिभाक् |२० |
tatastuh lokah prativarsham-araat ako
prasiddha-deepalikaya-aatra bharate
samudyatah poojayitum jineshvaram
jinendra-nirvana vibhuti-bhaktibhak
Translation: The gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra (i.e. Lord Mahavira) on the occasion of his nirvana.
Dipalikaya roughly translates as "light leaving the body". Dipalika, which can be roughly translated as "splendiferous light of lamps", is used interchangeably with the word "Diwali".
I'll try to make my mom go to my friends house for a celebration.
Vira Nirvana Samvat: The Jain year starts with Pratipada following Diwali. Vira Nirvana Samvat 2534 starts with Diwali 2007. The Jain business people traditionally started their accounting year from Diwali. The relationship between the Vir and Shaka era is given in Titthogali Painnaya and Dhavalaa [13] by Acharya Virasena:
पंच य मासा पंच य वास छच्चेव होन्ति वाससया|
परिणिव्वुअस्स अरिहितो तो उप्पन्नो सगो राया||
Thus the Nirvana occurred 605 years and 5 months before the Saka era.
On 21 October 1974 the 2500th Nirvana Mahotsava was celebrated by the Jains throughout India.[3]
Sikhism
Devotees of the sikh faith celebrate Diwali during between the end of October and the middle of November, the celebration of Diwali is celebrated by sikhs because it rejoices the time when the sixth sikh guru, Guru Hargobind singh was released from his imprisonment. The Sikh Diwali consists of many differentiated practises such as the reading of the Sikh holy scripture the Guru Granth sahib at the holiest sikh shrine Amritsar in the Punjab regions of India. Sikh families all get together to share a Vegetarian meal to give respect to animals and man alike. To make the crescendo of the joyous festival of lights fireworks are released into the air which represnts freedom.
Arya Samaj
The founder of Arya Samaj Swami Dayanand had died on Kartik Amawasya (30 October 1883). Followers of Arya Samaj celebrate Rishi Nirvanotsav as his Death Anniversary on this Day.
Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti is also celebrated by Arya Samaj Community as welcome of winter Season. Special Yagya is performed by them chanting Vedic Mantras.
Buddhism
While not a large occasion for the Buddhist community, Newar Buddhists celebrate Diwali through the chanting of mantras and remembering Emperor Ashoka who is said to have converted to Buddhism on this day, and therefore Buddhists also know the festival as Ashok Vijayadashami. Their temples and monasteries are well decorated during this time and the Buddha is worshipped with full honours.
While Diwali is not considered a major holiday in East Asia or in most of the Mahayana schools of East Asian Buddhism, the lunar calendar birthday of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha (whose healing aspect is often in the form of burning lights) is commemorated coincidentally around the time of Diwali.
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This Years Diwali: November 13, 2012 - November 17, 2012
So how are you celebrating Diwali?
Also to those who don't celebrate it, Happy Diwali to you also!
Since i'm heavily Punjabi-tradition influenced, for Day 1 we are going to light the lamps.
Edited by Shana09