Historical Significance of Diwali - Importance of Diwali Festival

Diwali is a festival that symbolizes enthusiasm, faith and wealth. Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kuber etc. are worshipped on this day. This festival is not only celebrated in India, but all around the world with great joy. It is believe that lord Rama returned to his kingdom after spending 14 years in exile. The people of his kingdom celebrated this occasion with joy by lighting diyas in every nook and corner of the kingdom.

In ancient scriptures it is mentioned that on the day of Diwali, at midnight, goddess Lakshmi enters your house. Hence, people clean and decorate their houses. Amawasya is on the day of Diwali and people light up their houses with divas to guide their ancestors who come down on the earth this day. It is recommended to chant kuber yantra of lord Kuber to get immense wealth in the coming year.

The puja of goddess Lakshmi begins in the evening. Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh are established in an individual's house at a decided auspicious time. Lord Ganesh sits on the left side and puja of goddess Lakshmi is done facing east. Divas of ghee are lit and shree sutra, Lakshmi sutra and purush sutras are praised. Divas are lit in every corner of the house.

Sweets are offered to the lords and every person in a family takes the blessings of their elders. At some places people gamble on the day of Diwali and at night special pujas are performed by tantric to attain siddhis. It is a tradition to apply paste of gram flour on the morning of Diwali and take an early bath. People burn the husk of coconut to guide their ancestors to heaven on the day of diwali.

On the day of Diwali people burn crackers and also worship lord Mahavir, founder of Jain religion. On this day people also celebrate kuber jayanti. To make yamraj, lord of death, happy people also give away divas as charity. On the day of Diwali people also do puja of Shreehari. Choti diwali is celebrated on the day of Narak Chaturthi.

Importance of Deepdan

The celebration of Diwali begins from Dhan Tryodashi. It is a gestyival of days in a sequence of: Dhan tryodashi, Narak Charurdashi/Choti Diwali, Diwali, Govardhan puja, and Bhai Dooj. According to ancient beliefs, God Dhanvantari appeared on Dhanteras. People lit diyas at the main entrance of their home

There is one more tale related to worshipping Lord Yamraj and lightning a lamp at the door of the house on this day according to which an ancient king, Hema was blessed with a son. He prepared the horoscope of his son and gets to know that his son will die after the four days of  his marriage. On listening to it the King gets very upset. At the time of his son’s marriage, when his daughter-in-law gets to know about it, she determines that she will save her husband from death. On the fourth day of her marriage she makes a heap of gold and silver coins outside the door of her room and recites stories to her husband so he doesn’t fall asleep.

In the midnight Yamraj comes in the form of a snake, but finds it difficult to pass the heap of gold and waits outside the door while listening the songs being sung by the princess. In this way the entire night passes by and the snake returns back in the morning without killing the prince. Thus, the life of the prince is saved. Since that day people light a candle outside their home and pray Lord Yamraj for their long life.