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The religious aspect

Inner cleansing and light

The Times of India, November 11, 2015

B K Brijmohan 

Diwali celebrates inner cleansing and light

Diwali, which falls on the darkest new moon night of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar, celebrates light and knowledge that comes from inner cleansing. The festival is celebrated by people of various faiths, but for Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, it commemorates special events that symbolise the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.

Before Diwali, people clean or decorate their homes and workplaces.On Diwali night, they light oil lamps or candles in their homes and offer prayers, usually invoking Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

These practices have become ritualised over time, but they have deep spiritual significance, related to the renewal and rejuvenation of the human soul in its journey through time.

The cleaning done prior to Diwali is an expression of the cleansing that the soul needs to undergo in order to hold the wealth of wisdom and virtues that God grants it. It is said that Goddess Lakshmi avoids places that are not clean, so people discard disused items lying around their homes and make sure that every corner of their dwelling is clean before Diwali.

While it may be possible to hoard material wealth in a grimy home, the real wealth of the soul, which is spiritual awareness, purity and contentment, cannot be sustained in an impure mind.

A person whose mind is fouled by vices will have no inclination to seek wisdom or cultivate the finer qualities that divinise humans. Even if such a person is given spiritual knowledge, he will not retain it for long, and will shed it just as soiled cloth repels water instead of absorbing it. The cleaner the mind, the more one is attracted to all that is good and noble, and it is such a mind that seeks enlightenment. The multifarious lights that illumine homes during Diwali are a symbol of the human yearning for the light of true knowledge.

Just as darkness inspires fear and causes sorrow in the form of mishaps, ignorance of one's true identity leads to all human suffering, as bodyconsciousness gives rise to vices such as lust, anger, attachment and ego, which corrupt our thoughts and actions.

There is something beyond the physical body and mind, which is pure and eternal, called the soul. The celebration of Diwali refers to the light of this higher knowledge, dispelling the darkness of ignorance which masks one's true identity as an immortal, immanent being.

Happiness is the fruit of tions, which in turn flow from good actions, which in turn flow from pure thoughts and feelings. Noble thinking will come naturally to us only if we have cleansed the mind and culti vated virtues such as love, kindness, purity and truth which enrich human life and bring joy to relationships.

The deities worshipped during Diwali are symbolic representations of virtues.Goddess Lakshmi, the deity most commonly associated with the festival, is shown seated on a lotus flower, holding a lotus blossom each in two of her four arms, while one palm is raised in blessing and another showers gold coins. The lotus is a symbol of purity , as the flower remains untouched by the mud in which it blooms. The blessings and gold signify generosity and abundance.

Such are the qualities we need to invoke during Diwali in order to enrich our lives, as without them no amount of material wealth can bring us happiness.

Significance Of Deepavali

Anandmurti Gurumaa, The Real Significance Of Deepavali, Oct 29 2016 : The Times of India

Deepavali is the festival of light. On the night of Amavasya, New Moon ­ it is believed that the darker and blacker the night, the more one appreciates the light emanating from the lamp. But this lamp can only emit light till there is oil in it, till the wick burns. Once the oil is consumed, once the wick burns out, the flame, too, gets extinguished.

Similarly , we may strive with all our might in our worldly affairs, yet in the end, it is all in vain. Till the body feels energetic, active, we pull on, for at that time it makes no difference. But when the vigour and vitality of the body begin to diminish, problems start. And once strength goes away , living with one's own body becomes a burden. The eyes are unable to see, the ears fail to hear and one feels challenged; helpless.When body and mind are both suffering, and we are in pain, we realise that whether one has 10 lakh rupees or 10 crore or 10 billion in the bank, it is of no use.

We tend to take all kinds of precautions, make all provisions possible to ensure that “I will be safe“, but in the end, all we get is disappointment. That is why , despite strength and capability in the body , if the intellect doesn't really function, there is no realisation. And when the intellect finally does realise it, it may be too late because by that time the body is incapable of doing anything. The lamp which is lit outside is indeed pleasing to the eye and it gives light ­ but to dispel the darkness of the mind, we need to light the lamp of dhyana or meditation and jnana or knowledge. And once these lamps are lit, their light can never go out, for it is sustained by the oil of vairagya or dispassion in the mind that fuels it. Without dispassion, this lamp cannot burn. And it is the fuel of dispassion from which rays of knowledge burst forth, giving rise to wisdom with the power of discrimination that enables us to distinguish between truth and untruth.

Once you learn something, you cannot forget it. And once we know something, we cannot pretend that we don't know it. That is why it is said that once darkness is dispelled, once the light shines bright, then one does not stumble or trip ever again.

Deepavali, the festival of lights, is rich in symbolism. Celebrated on the darkest of nights, it indicates that for those who light the lamp of knowledge in the darkness of life, there is luminosity, both within and without. For those who don't, the mind abides in darkness because the outer light is temporary .

Every person should strive to dispel the darkness that cloaks his mind. And it is ignorance which keeps the mind in the deepest, densest darkness, which makes us believe that we are living a good life that will always stay that way . We do not understand that just like the oil in the lamp burns away, one day the lamp of our life too will get extinguished.

Deepavali in the true sense celebrates the rooting out of darkness from the mind by lighting the lamp of dhyana and jnana.

Karnataka

By BL Sridhar, Manik Sonawane

In Karnataka Deepavali is celebrated [a day after much of India] also called as padya the first day of the Kartika month first lunar fortnight.It is believed that the king of devas Indra became vary of the increasing power of king Balendra and pleaded with Lord Vishnu who donned the Vamana Avatara and sought a space of three feet.King Balendra who was known for his donations at the time of performing Yagnas readily agreed. Immediately Vamana in one measure of his foot covered the entire sky.With the second he covered the whole earth.He then asked for his third foot space.By now king Balendra had realised that Lord Vishnu had come in the form of Vamana. However as a stoic truthful person he offered his head to rest his third foot.Vamana immediately pushed him to the patal ,but granted him a boon to respect his steadfastness.King Balendra asked Lord Vishnu to Gaurd his house for eternity. In Karnataka they celebrate Deepavali to commemorate this event by lighting lamps and worship King Balendra for his truthful nature and being blessed by Lord Vishnu.

In Karnataka they call this festival as Deepavali not Diwali.

Fourth Day Of Deepawali Is Celebrated As Padwa ( पाडवा ) OR Bali Prati Pada -- A New Year Day Of A Begining Of Chaitra Month And Indicates A Start Of A Spring Season .

Diwali greetings in different languages

❇Sanskrit:

शुभ दीपावली । सर्वे भवान्तु सुखिनः

Shubhah Deepavalihi.. Sarve bhavantu sukhinah

✴Telugu:

Andariki Deepawali shubakankshalu

✳Tamil:

Anaivarukum iniya Dheebavali nal valhthukkal.

Deepavali naal vazhthagal.

எல்லோருக்கும் இனிய தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

✴Malayalam:

Ellavarkkum santhoshavum ahlathavum niranja Deepavali ashamsakal

എല്ലാവര്‍ക്കും സന്തോഷവും ആഹ്ലാതവും നിറഞ്ഞ ദീപാവലി ആശംസകള്‍.

❇Tulu:

Nikulu Materegla deepavali parbada shubhashya!

✴Kodava:

Ninga eelariku santosha Deepavali.

❇Kannada:

DeepavaLi habbada hardika shubhashayagaLu.

ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಹಬ್ನದ ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು

ಮೋಜಿನದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಹಾರ್ಧಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು

✴Konkani:

तुन्का सग्गाठंकयी दीपावली ची हार्दिक शुभेच्छा ।

antu asile pura lokaku amgel kadechan Deepavali parbeche shubhashay.

✳Marathi:

तुम्हा सर्वाना सुखी अणि आनंददायी अश्या दिवाळीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा

Tumha sarvana, sukhi ani aanandmayi asha ya Diwlicha hardik shubbhecha.

❇Gujarati:

Diwali ni hardik shubechao ne nutan varshabhinandan.

Diwali na divas par tamne ane tamara sahu pariwar jan ne diwali ni subhecha pathvu chu.

✴Kathiyawadi:

Nava varsh na raam raam/ jai shri krishna

✳Kutchi:

Aanke madi ke di Diwali ji lakh lakh vadhaiyu

✴Sindhi:

Tawankhey , tawanje gharawaran and dostan khey dil sa dyari ju wadayu.

❇Balochi:

Washen Diwali Shomara Murad Bath.

✴Malwa:

Deepawali ki Ram Ram.

✳Marwari:

Ram Ram sa Diwali ra jualda karu sa,aapne or aapre sagla pariwar ne diwali ra ramasama karu sa.

थे लोंगा ने दिवाली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं.

✴Saavji:

Tumne ani tumara samasta parivaar ne Deewali nu shubbheccha.

✳Rajasthani:

Aap re or aap re ghar walo ne mari tharaf su diwali ki gani gani shubha kamnaye.

✴Shekhawati:

Thane Diwalli ki bhot bhot badhaiaan mahri aur soon.

❇Hadoti:

Tanne diwalli ki bhat bhot badhai mahri aur choon.

✴Sadri:

Raaur ke shubh Deepavali.

❇Punjabi:

त्वानूं सब नूं दिवाली दी लख लख बधाइयाँ।

Twahnu Diwali diyan lakh-2 badhaiyan!!

✴Kashmiri:

Tohi chuv Diwali hunz hath hath Mubarak

Diwali’ us pet tohi saarni mubarak. Lassun te Pahlun.

✳Hindi:

आप सभी को खुशियों और उल्लास से भरी दिवाली की शुभ-कामनाएं !

Aap Sab ko prasannata evam anand se paripoorn Diwali ki shubhkaamnaayein!

✴Urdu:

Deepavali ki dilli mubarakhbaad app sab khavateen o hazrat ko.

✳Bhojpuri:

Raurake Diwali ke badhayi ho.

✴Nepali:

शुभ दिपावली को पावन अवसरमा हार्दिक मंगलमय शुभकामना

❇Maithili:

Aahan sabgote ke mithilawasi ke or sa Diwali ke hardik subhkamna.

✴Bangla:

Sakalkeyi Diwali)priti o antarik subhecha. Asha kori, ei Dibas apnar jibone Anando niye ashe

✳Asomese:

दीपावली’र हार्दिक शुभेच्छा जौनाइसु आपुना’र लौक

✴Dimasa:

Deepawali Ni Khirbkhe Aani Hamjauma Odehe Khasauma Rilahadu.

❇Odia:

Apana sabhinku subha abong anandamaya DIPAVALI ra hardhik subha kamala

✴Romanian:

Deepawali fericite.

✳Spanish:

Deseamos feliz Deepavali.

✴Arabic:

ديوالي سعيد جداً

diwali Ya saeed jidan

❇French :

Vous souhaite un joyeux Deepavali

✴German:

Herzlichen Glueckwunsch zum Diwali

Celebrations, festivities, lights, crackers

Air pollution

See graphics on the page Air pollution: Delhi

Why Chinese crackers have come under fire; Sivakasi’s share; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, November 6, 2015

Fires, burn cases on and before Diwali

2015, Delhi: 400 cases, highest in 10 years

The Times of India, Nov 13 2015

400 cases in 36 hours, city has most fires in 10 yrs

Around 400 fires were reported from the capital in the last 36 hours, making it the highest in the past 10 years. Officials said 290 fire-related incidents occurred on Diwali. However, no deaths or major injuries were reported. The fire department deployed fire tenders at 20 vulnerable spots, including congested areas and key markets. Around 1,800 personnel out of the department's strength of 3,000 were on duty, while 175 to 180 fire engines were deployed. Officials said most cases were reported from 9pm on Diwali till the next morning. In 2015 the department attended to 220 calls while in 2014, they had responded to 75 calls .

Sivakasi

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.

Town in the Sattur taluk of Tinnevelly District, Madras, situated in 9° 27' N. and 17° 48' E., 12 miles from Sattur, and midway between that town and Srivilliputtur. It is a Union, with a population (1901) of 13,021. Many of the Shanan merchants are well-to-do, their trade being chiefly in tobacco, cotton, and jaggery (coarse sugar). Sivakasi was the scene of the outbreak of the disturbances of 1899, which arose out of a dispute as to the right of the Shanans to enter the local temple. Several lives were lost in these riots, and a punitive police force of 100 men under a special Assistant Superintendent is now stationed in the town.

Firecrackers and the law

They have no religious sanctity: Delhi HC

The Times of India, Nov 07 2015

Abhinav Garg

HC says crackers as bad as explosives

 They have no religious sanctity; limit availability to make ban effective

Citing spiralling levels of pollution in the city, the Delhi high court on Thursday backed a “public outcry“ against bursting of firecrackers. Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw observed crackers were no less dangerous than other explosives and their availability should be restricted. “Owing to less stringent control on use, firecrackers are available far more easily than arms and are rampantly used,“ the court observed.

It said that over the years this had resulted in incidents of fire and injury on Diwali that were only going up. Now hospitals have to gear up for the onslaught and be in a state of preparedness, especially on Diwali night, it pointed out.

“Certainly , no one can claim a right to burst firecrackers at the cost of injury to another,“ the court observed, rejecting a woman's plea for a temporary licence to sell crackers in her shop. It was hearing a challenge to Delhi Police commissioner's refusal to grant a temporary licence to one Manisha Sharma for sale of firecrackers.

The HC also pointed out that bursting of firecrackers doesn't have any religious sanctity. Instead, it adversely affects the environment and causes various ailments. “Diwali, though called a festival of lights, has religious context only in illuminating the buildings traditionally with diyas, which over a period of time got substituted with candles.There is nothing to suggest that bursting of firecrackers is related to any religious tenet,“ the court noted. “Firecrackers clearly fall under the Explosives Act 1884 and are hazardous in nature.They emanate sound and foul gases and fine particles,“ the court added.

It pointed out that the Supreme Court has restricted the number of hours during which firecrackers can be burst on Diwali but it remained more on paper because of difficulties in enforcement. “The only way of enforcement is to limit the availability of firecrackers in the city,“ Justice Endlaw said, adding, “I am of the view that it is not in public interest for this court to direct the authorities concerned to grant a temporary licence to sell firecrackers when the authorities have refused the same to the petitioner.“

The court also observed people of Delhi lived mostly in multi-storeyed buildings with no open spaces to burst firecrackers, running the risk of these crackers exploding in a neighbour's house. “Due to this, several countries have prohibited bursting of crackers within the city and earmarked open spaces, particularly waterfronts for this,“ the judge said.

“Delhi today is severely impacted environmentally , with newspapers reporting the air quality to have attained dangerous standards, severely affecting breathing of citizens, owing to burning of paddy in agricultural lands in neighbouring states. Cases of breathing ailments are on the rise and frequently becoming fatal. This was unheard of in earlier times when the practice of bursting crackers as an expression of joy may have commenced,“ Justice Endlaw said.

Diwali abroad

United Nations headquarters, 2016

United Nations headquarters, 2016

For the first time ever, UN lights up for Diwali, Nov 01 2016 : The Times of India and agencies

For the first time ever, the United Nations celebrated Diwali this year and how.

The global watchdog's headquarters in New York was lit up in bright hues for three days, from October 29 to October 31, with the message `Happy Diwali', accompanied by the image of an earthen lamp, projected on the facade.

“Light over darkness, hope over despair, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil -the UN lights up. Happy Diwali!“ tweeted Peter Thomson, the president of the gene ral assembly , on Monday . He also invited all the UN ambassadors to attend an event on the occasion.

“Lighting up. @UN lights up for #Diwali for 1st time (sic),“ India's ambassador to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.

This is the first time that Diwali has been celebrated at the UN. In 2014, the UN general assembly adopted a resolution that acknowledged the “significance of Diwali“.

As the festival is observed in many UN member states, the resolution called on UN bodies to avoid holding meetings on Diwali.

From this year, Diwali has been declared an optional holiday for the UN, India's permanent mission to the organisation said in a special video message. In June, the UN building was lit up in recognition of International Yoga Day , with images of yoga postures projected on the headquarters' facade.

Diwali in the White House, Oval Office

Obama celebrates Diwali, lights first-ever diya in Oval Office, PTI

The Diwali diya in the Oval Office, 2016
Official White House photograph

2016: Barack and Michelle Obama celebrate Diwali, light the first-ever diya in the Oval Office
News live TV

"This year, I was honoured to kindle the first-ever diya in the Oval Office —— a lamp that symbolises how darkness will always be overcome by light. It is a tradition that I hope future Presidents will continue," Mr. Obama said on the White House Facebook page.

US President Barack Obama has celebrated Diwali by lighting the first-ever diya in the Oval Office of the White House and hoped that his successors would continue the tradition.

Mr. Obama, who was the first president to celebrate Diwali personally at the White House in 2009, talked about this momentous occasion in a Facebook post soon after he kindled the diya in his Oval Office with some Indian-Americans working in his administration.

“I was proud to be the first President to host a Diwali celebration at the White House in 2009, and Michelle and I will never forget how the people of India welcomed us with open arms and hearts and danced with us in Mumbai on Diwali,” Mr. Obama said.

“This year, I was honoured to kindle the first-ever diya in the Oval Office —— a lamp that symbolises how darkness will always be overcome by light. It is a tradition that I hope future Presidents will continue,” Mr. Obama said on the White House Facebook page, which became viral on the social media.

By late night it was liked by more than 1.5 lakh people and shared more than 33,000 times.

“On behalf of the entire Obama family, I wish you and your loved ones peace and happiness on this Diwali,” Mr. Obama said.

“To all who are celebrating the festival of lights across America and around the world, happy Diwali. As Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists light the diya, share in prayers, decorate their homes, and open their doors to host and feast with loved ones, we recognise that this holiday rejoices in the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance,” said the U.S. President.

“It also speaks to a broader truth about our shared American experience. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when we see beyond the differences that too often divide us. It’s a reflection of the hopes and dreams that bind us together,” he said.

Mr. Obama said that it is a time to renew collective obligation to deepen those bonds, to stand in each other’s shoes and see the world through each other’s eyes, and to embrace each other as brothers and sisters —— and as fellow Americans.