In India, once during the year comes a time when the T.V., radio and newspapers are full of adverts to either sell colors to paint your home brand new, to buy clothes all glittered and showy for that perfect look, to buy vehicles (especially the western part of India) at easy EMI schemes, to get jewelry (with less making charges) and so on and so forth. With this reference it would not be a quiz to any Indian to figure the subject in question…  Undoubtedly it is time for enlightenment, both practically and spiritually that comes with Deepavali!!!

"Diwali" is the easy-to-pronounce form of Deepavali. In Sanskrit “Deepavali” is the marriage of two Sanskrit words- Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. Indeed celebrating the row of lights forms one of Diwali’s main attraction. Every home - huts of the poor to the mansions of the rich are aglow with the orange glow of twinkling diyas. Lighting these small earthen lamps welcome Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Multi-colored Rangoli designs, special pooja ceremonies, exchange of sweets and gifts that lends grandeur to the occasion, floral decorations and fireworks lend vivid, colorful imagery and grandeur to this festival which heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuring year.

A time for reuniting with near and dear ones, friends and acquaintances, forgiving foes and indulging in the best of everything, Deepavali has more to offer than just the celebration. It is enthusiastically celebrated for five continuous days, the third day of which is Deepavali. Each day has its significance with a number of myths, legends and beliefs.

The First day is called 'Dhanteras' which falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The word ‘Dhan’ means wealth. Believing this day to be auspicious, women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. The Second day is called 'Narkachaturdashi', 'Choti Diwali' which falls on the fourteenth day of the month of Ashwin. This day therefore is dedicated to lights and prayers heralding a future full of joy and laughter. The Third day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day. On this day special pooja ceremony is observed to worship Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi. This is the day when the Sun enters his second course and passes Libra constellation (Nakshtra), which is represented, by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an Amavasya (dark night) it is regarded as the most auspicious. The Fourth day is celebrated as 'Padva' or 'Bali Pratipada' to commemorate King Bali.

The Fifth and final day of Deepavali Festival is known by the name of 'Bhaiya-Duj' that is observed as a symbol of love between sisters and brothers. In today's world when pressing everyday problems are teaming as under all the tender words of personal relationships, the celebrating of this day has its own importance in continuing to maintain the love between brothers and sister. It is the day of food-sharing; gift-giving and reaching out to the inner most depths of the hearts.

There are several legends that qualify to be the reason why Deepavali is celebrated. The most popular of them is the return of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya after a 14 year exile, and a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people of Ayodhya lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness.

Deepavali on the whole has always been the festival with more social than religious connotations. It is a personal, social festival when enmities are forgotten; families and friends meet, enjoy and establish a word of closeness.

As a festival of light and beauty it encourages artistic expressions through home-decorations stage-plays, elocution competitions singing and dancing programs, making gift items and delectable sweets thereby discovering new talents of younger people. As a result innumerable communities with varying cultures and customs mingle together to make Deepavali celebrations a very happy occasion for all.

Rabindranath Tagore has given the true significance of Deepavali in one beautiful line: “The night is black. Kindle the lamp of love with thy life and devotion.”

Hoping that each one of us benefits in a special way this season and here’s wishing the whole of the Indian community (wherever we are) and all the rest a very warm, safe and a Happy Deepavali!!!