Diwali:Festival of Light & Happiness symbolizes the people of Ayodhya welcoming the return of Shriram from exile with illuminated lamps

Diwali: The Festival of Lights :

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India’s biggest and most important festival of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.

Primarily a Hindu festival, variations of Diwali are also celebrated by adherents of other faiths. The Jains observe their own Diwali which marks the final liberation of Mahavira.The Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal prison. Newar Buddhists, unlike other Buddhists, celebrate Diwali by worshipping Lakshmi, while the Hindus of Eastern India and Bangladesh generally celebrate Diwali by worshipping the goddess Kali.

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that’s also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well.

Diwali 2023: Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most celebrated festivals in India. People around the world eagerly wait to celebrate this festival with great grandeur and fervor. Diwali is the festival to celebrate the victory of good over evil and triumph of light over darkness. This is one of the major festivals of Hindu which is celebrated on Amavasya in the month of Kartik.

The festival of Diwali brings family and friends together to celebrate it with great joy and happiness. This festival is celebrated for 5 consecutive days, starts with Dhanteras festival and ends with Bhai Dooj. The festival of lights is being celebrated on November 12, 2023.

Diwali 2023 Date and Time :

Amavasya Tithi Begins – November 12, 2023 – 02:44 PM

Amavasya Tithi Ends – November 13, 2023 – 02:56 PM

Pradosh Kaal – November 12, 2023 – 05:08 PM to 07:41 PM

Vrishabha Kaal – November 12, 2023 – 05:19 PM to 07:19 PM\

Diwali 2023: Significance :

The celebration of Diwal starts with Dhanteras festival and people are buying new things, idols, and decorating their homes with lights, diyas and rangoli. They are ready to welcome the Goddess Laxmi, Lord Kuber and Lord Dhanvantri at home so that they all will bless them with good fortune, wealth, health and prosperity. On this day, people light a diya outside their house dedicated to Lord Yama.

After Dhanteras, people will worship Lord Krishna as he and his wife killed the demon Narakasura and so Narak Chaturdashi will be celebrated after Dhanteras.

The most important day of Diwali is celebrated as Laxmi puja and people perform Laxmi Puja on this day. It is the day, when people worship Goddess Laxmi by every possible way to please her and seek her blessings. They decorate their house inside out and light so many diyas and illuminate their house. Rangoli is considered to be one of the most auspicious and creative activity and it is believed that Goddess Laxmi visit that home where it is made. It is connected with this festival religiously.

 Deepawali celebration significance:

1. Victory of good over evil:

It is believed that Lord Ram along with his wife Goddess Sita and brother Laxman returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and also after killing the demon Ravana, the king of Sri Lanka. The lighting of lamps is believed to symbolize the people of Ayodhya welcoming Rama with illuminated oil lamps.

2. Appearance day of Goddess Laxmi:

As per Hindu Scriptures, it was the day when Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity emerged from milky ocean when deities and demon where churning the ocean.

3. Victory of light over darkness:

Diwali commemorates the victory of light over darkness. the festival of Deepavali means the row of lights, festival of lighting diyas. People adorn their homes with lights, diyas, lamps and candles.

4. Laxmi Puja:

It is the sacred day of worshipping Goddess Laxmi and please her by various ways. People perform puja at their homes and offices and places are fully cleaned and offer prayers to Goddess Lakshami.

5. Goddess Saraswati:

Diwali is also associated with the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom. Many people perform Saraswati Puja during Diwali to seek her blessings for academic success and enlightenment.

6. Festival of exchanging gifts:

The festival of Diwali is mainly celebrated with friends and relatives and they all come together visit each other’s home and give gifts as a token of love and respect. They show their happiness by giving gifts and sweets to their relatives, friends and neighbours. It is the festival of social gathering.

Diwali 2023: What to do on Diwali?

1. Wake up early in the morning and take a bath first before doing anything.

2. people first clean and decorate their house with rangoli (colorful designs made with colored powders), diyas (oil lamps), and flowers.

3. Bring the Puja samagri which will be used during the Laxmi Puja.

4. In the evening, people perform Laxmi Puja and seek Goddess Laxmi’s blessings.

5. Some people even conduct the Laxmi Puja through a qualified Priest or Brahmin.

6. Visit to relatives and neighbours and give them gifts and sweets.

7. Firework is also main part of the Diwali but due to rise in pollution, people should use green crackers an celebrate the eco friendly Diwali..

Laxmi Puja will be performed on the main day of Diwali celebration which is held on November 12, 2023.

When is Bhai Dooj in 2023?

Bhai Dooj will be celebrated on November 15,2023                                                                      Govardhan will be celebrated on November 14, 2023.

Ayodhya Deepotsav 2023: 11 Nov.2023: राममय हुई अयोध्या :

Ayodhya Deepotsav 2023: अयोध्या दीपोत्सव 2023 में नया दिए जलाने का नया वर्ल्ड रिकॉर्ड बनाया गया है. अयोध्या एक साथ जले 22.23 लाख दीये !पहले 18 लाख 81 हजार दिए जलाए जाने का रिकॉर्ड था

उत्तर प्रदेश के अयोध्या में आज दीपोत्सव कार्यक्रम मनाया जा रहा है. कार्यक्रम में शामिल होने के लिए यूपी के मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ, राज्यपाल आनंदी बेन पटेल, यूपी के डिप्टी सीएम केशव मौर्य और बृजेश पाठक सहित कई नेता और 50 से ज्यादा देशों के राजदूत अयोधया में कार्यक्रम में शामिल हुए !

CM Adityanath with the Ram Darbar maintaining the religious fervor of Bharatvarsh

My hearty wishes to all my countrymen for a very happy Deepavali 2023 & I hope you experience more happiness in your life with this joyous celebration & wish you an abundance of love, joy, and lights during Diwali! Feel happiness with your loved ones and friends on Diwali 2023!  

JAI SHRI RAM JI