- ~ Posted by Deepak Kamboj on October 17, 2009
I wish all of you Happy Diwali. Dīwali is a significant festival an official holiday in India. While Diwali is popularly known as the “festival of lights”, the most significant spiritual meaning is “the awareness of the inner light”.
Diwali or Deepawali is the festival of lights and sweetness. It is basically a symbol of the victory of good over evil, brightness over darkness, and truth over falsity. Each and every legend associated with this fabulous festival gives the same message. The thick dark new-moon (Amavasya) night on which the Diwali festival is celebrated, seems like a full-moon (Purnima) night, because of the effulgent light of numerous diyas or deepaks lighted on this night. These diyas not only make Diwali, the festival of lights, but they also symbolize the supremacy and consequence of brightness over darkness. The same message is given by the Hindu Upanishads by saying, “Asato Ma Sadgamaya”. The lighted diyas (Diya or Deepak) on Diwali also remind us of the same teaching of the Upanishads.
Diya/Deepak can be defined as a small earthen lamp that is specially lit on Diwali for pujan and decoration purposes. A cotton wick is used in diyas, and oil or ghee serves as the burning fuel. Diyas are plain and colored, big and small, simple and fancy, and so. Different types of diyas are appropriate for different applications. Children could also make their own diyas as a fun activity on Diwali. This could be done by using clay or dough. It is better not to use a wool wick in ghee diyas.
- Tags: diwali
- Categories: Personal