Diwali or Deepawali is the most iconic festival of Hindus celebrated across the length and breadth of the country. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on 4th November. Read on to know more about the festival of lights- Diwali and Diwali Puja Vidhi with mantra and its significance.
Significance of Diwali
The literal meaning of Deepawali (deep – lights, vali – row or cluster) is “Rows of lights”. Diwali is festivals of joy, illumination, generosity, and exuberance. Deepawali signifies the importance of knowledge, righteousness and integrity. The light of knowledge removes the darkness of thoughts produced by ignorance
People decorate their houses and offices with toran, rangoli, and diyas or lamps. People wear new clothes, all family members come together to celebrate this festival with exuberance and exchanges gifts among themselves. Everyone comes together to burn firecrackers. It is believed that fireworks ward off evil spirits.
Kartik Amavasya i.e.15th day of new moon day is the darkest night of the year and lighting diyas on this day signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over bad deeds, and virtuous over evil. In order to, invite Goddess Lakshmi, people light Diya at the entrance of their home and windowsills and let open their doors for her to enter.
People clean and decorate their home and place of work to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity Lakshmi. Along with Goddess Lakshmi People also worship Lord Ganesh, Goddess Kali, and Sarasvati, Kuber, and Indra. Businessmen and traders also worship their account books to ensure year-long profits.
As per Padam Puran, arranging diyas in rows and mandala on the day of Kartik Amavasya may help to attain Param pad or absolute salvation.
कार्तिक मास्यमावास्या तस्यां दीप प्रदीपनम् |
शालायां ब्राह्मणः कुर्यात् स गच्छेत् परमं पदम् ||
Kartike maasyamavasya tasyam deep pradeepanam | shalayam bhramanah kuryat sa gacchet param padam ||
According to Brahma Purana, The Goddess of wealth Lakshmi visits the cleanest houses to bless the devotees with wealth, prosperity, and good fortunes. That’s why cleaning is the most important aspect of the Diwali festival. The reason being, after rain, the house gets dirty due to dirt and cobwebs. To remove this filth and odor, people, clean and paint their houses.
Why do we celebrate Diwali
Lord Rama came back with his consort Seetha and Brother Laxman after completing the exile of 14 years. To welcome them, People lit diyas all across the streets and decorated the city like a newly-wed bride. The people of Ayodhya illuminated the city to commemorate his king Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana.
As per other sources, on this Kartik Krishna Amavasya, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean where deva and asura both participated. On the auspicious day of Deepawali, Goddess Lakshmi chose Lord Vishnu for marriage.
In Jainism and Sikhism, this day also holds an important place. Jain Teerthankar Mahavira Swami attained moksha on Diwali, thus celebrated as Mahavira nirvana diwas in the Jain community.
Guru Hargovind Singh, the sixth Sikh guru, was released on this day from the captivity of Jahangir along with 52 other Hindu kings.
Diwali Puja Vidhi
Diwali Puja vidhi differ across regions and customs vary from family to family. Though the basic method is the same. Some people worship only Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesh while some like to pray Lakshmi Ganesh, Sarasvati along with Ganga Ji.
On Kartik Krishna Amavasya, after taking bath early in the morning, Take Sankalp by chanting this mantra
“मम सर्वपच्छान्ति पूर्वकदीर्घायुष्यबल्पुष्टिनैरुज्यदिसकलशुभ्फलप्राप्त्यर्थं गजतुरगरथराज्यैश्वर्यदिसकलसंपदामुत्तरोत्तराभिवृद्धयेअर्थं इन्द्रकुबेरसहितं श्री लक्ष्मी पूजनं करिष्ये “
After taking Sankalp, keep fast either without water or on fruits depending upon your capacity.
In the evening, again take bath, and in your pooja room or wealth storage room, place murti of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on a chauki or on an elevated platform on red cloth. After that draw ashtdal with akshat, and fill a copper, silver, or gold pot with water along with, betel nut,Akshat and coin. Keep some grains on top of kalash and Place this kalash in front of Mutis.
After placing Murti, chant
‘Shri Ganeshaye Namah’
‘Lakshmaye Namah’
‘Indraye namah’ and ‘Kuberaye namah’
It is customary to invoke Lord Ganesh before anyone else because he is vighnaharta Thus, removes all obstacles and brings auspiciousness to occasion.
Mantra for Lord Ganesh
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्य कोटि समप्रभा , निविघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व कार्येषु सर्वदा ||
Vakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samprabha | nirvighnam Kurume dev sarva karyesu sarvada ||
Mantra for Goddess Lakshmi
नमस्ते सर्वदेवानां वरदासि हरेः प्रिया | या गतिस्त्वत्प्रपन्नानां सा मे भूयात्त्वदर्चनात ||
Namste sarvadevanam vardasi hareh Priya| yaa gatistvaatprapannanam sa me bhuyatvadarchanam
Mantra for Indra Poojan
ऐरावत समारुढा व्रज्रहस्तो महाबलः | शत यज्ञाधिपो देवस्तस्मा इन्द्राय ते नमः ||
Airavatsamrudho vrajahasto mahabalah| shatyagnadhipodevastasma indraye ten amah ||
Mantra for Kuber Poojan
धनदाय नमस्तुभ्यं निधिपद्माधिपाय च | भवन्तु त्वत्प्रसादान्मे धनधान्यादिसंपदः ||
Dhandaay namustubhyam nidhipadmadhipay cha|
Bhavantu tvatprasadnme dhandhaayadisampadah ||
Make offerings of flowers, fruits, sweets, puffed rice, batasha to the deities, and lit clay diyas in every nook and corner of the house. After that, enjoy the sweets and savories with your friends and family, burn firecrackers and share happiness.
Happy Diwali to all the readers of Devotionalfolks.
You may also like to read Dhanteras puja vidhi and Narak Chaturdashi Puja Vidhi
