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The Diwali or Deepawali, literally means row of (earthen) lamps. It is hallmark festival of Hindu culture in India. It signifies victory of light over darkness, good over evil.

This darkness has many levels : philosophical, spiritual, personal, social, national, global. Messages of Diwali, since eternity, have been proved successful in protecting and rescuing mankind from unfathomable darkness of life and society of all times.

Diwali Rangoli.

Calender for Diwali 2023.

Diwali is a mega festival of Indian subcontinent, which goes for five days. Each day has special religious importance. Let us see what are important dates this year in 2023.

10th October: Dhanteras
11th October: Narak Chaturdashi
12th October: Diwali
14October: Govardhan Puja
15th October: Bhaiduj

The festival begins with Dhanteras. It is believed that buying jewellery on on this day is auspicious. On this day we also celebrate Jayanti ( birthday) of Dhanwantari, the God of Ayurveda.

On Narak chaturdashi day, families light 14 earthen lamps to ward off the evil.

On third day, which is Amawasya day of krishna paksh of Kartik month, Diwali is celebrated. Goddess Laxmi ( Hindu Goddess of prosperity ), is worshipped on this day. On this day 21 earthen lamps are lit.

On 4th day of this festive season Govardhan puja is observed to honour the Lord Krishna, who in mythical tales, had saved people of Vrindavan from torrential rains by lifting Govardhan hill on His finger.

The celebration draws to completion with observing Bhaiduj festival which is related to brothers and sisters.

The Diwali Day.

The chief event which attracts much attention is Laxmi puja( worship of Goddess Laxmi). Laxmi is Goddess of prosperity, and consort of Lord Vishnu (The protector and sustainer God). Thus people look towards Goddess Laxmi for her blessings to get rid of misery of their lives and to fulfil their desire to live a prosperous life. May Diwali 2023 bring a lot of fortunes and opportunities for economic progress of the world.

Goddess Laxmi and her 8 benevolent forms (Ashta Laxmi )

Laxmi And Ganesh.

As Prosperity is seen in many forms, so Goddess Laxmi too has following 8 different forms to bestow specific wealth on her devotees.

Aadya Laxmi: Symbolic of her primordial existence.
Dhana Laxmi: Related to monetary prosperity.
Dhanya Laxmi: Related to food grains prosperity.
Gaj Laxmi: Related to animal wealth (elephants) and royalty.
Santaan Laxmi: Related to blessings of progeny.
Dhairya Laxmi: Related to wielding the characteristics of bravery and courage.
Vijaya Laxmi: Related to blessings of victory.
Vidya Laxmi: Related to blessings of knowledge and wisdom.

On Diwali day, Goddess Laxmi is believed to visit her devotees along with Sri Ganesha ( The remover of obstacles to the fulfilment of desires), Her spouse Lord Vishnu, Her clan ( Kali, Parvati, Saraswati ), followed by planets and constellations.

Of Her four hands, one displays Abhay Mudra ( Fingers held upward with palm facing outward), which is gesture of fearlessness. Another hand is in Varda Mudra ( fingers pointed downwards and palm facing outward ) which is a gesture of offering boons. Lotus in another hand symbolises enlightenment and righteousness. Flag in another hand suggests surrender to the divine.

In order to strengthen the prosperity, the devotee needs to get the blessings of Lord Ganesh ( God of wisdom and remover of obstacles) and Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge). The meaning implicit here is that without support of knowledge and wisdom, prosperity can not be well founded and long lasting.

Money earned from corrupt and unethical practice has been termed Alaxmi ( i.e. Non Laxmi) in Sanatan Hindu culture. And this Alaxmi brings devastation to its owners.

We hope Diwali 2023, will bring a lot of blessings from Goddess Laxmi to Her devotees. We also expect from the devotees of Diwali 2023 to internalise the eternal meanings and messages of Diwali.

Celebrations (Diwali 2023).

People celebrate Diwali with grandeur and enthusiasm. People plan in much advance for the budget and scale of their celebration, which essentially includes cleaning and painting of house. Along with cleaning, decluttering of waste and garbage heaped over the year is also essential part. Letting the garbage lying in any corner of house amounts to hamper the positive energy of the place.

On Dhanteras day markets flourish and perform robust as there is bumper sales due to huge purchasing of cloths, jewellery, utensils, vehicles, sweets, dry fruits and gifts. People with great love buy earthen lamps and traditional gift items. Family members wear traditional attires on Diwali day. Ladies of houses make lovely Rangolis and decorate the doors with traditional art. Children bubble with joy and have a lot of fun and learn and participate in many domestic tasks. People greet each other, exchange gifts and sweets and burst crackers. Atmosphere becomes fully charged with passion and enthusiasm. Life after Diwali, needs resetting our food habits back to normal in a healthy way.

Diwali not only illuminates houses but hearts as well.

Diwali 2023: Messages and Lessons.

Legacy of darkness of social inequalities, economic disparity and incidence of poverty among vulnerable groups prevails as ever. Darkness of year 2023 is even more horrible due to many regional conflicts, aggression and war around the globe. Russia Ukraine war and Attack on Israel by Hamas are great concern to humanity. Wealth created by terror and cruelty can not be stable. War is never a solution. Territorial integrity must be respected. May enlightenment prevail to the world as a whole..

The whole world may be a better place to live when we believe in love and inclusiveness. There should be radiance of Diwali in our head and hearts. Also, we should not close our eyes to bad intentions intriguing against our nations.

This Diwali, while collecting waste plastic used over the year at home, I got hurt to realise how this waste plastic has turned our sacred rivers in to “Highways of Plastic Flows.” It also dawned upon me that by reducing our needs we can reduce our share of “Carbon Foot Print.”

We must internalise the lesson of social cohesion imparted by this great festival. We must promote the products made by local artisans. By doing so we can support a business, and a family. This is a great unifying festival which reminds us that it is the row of lamps (Deepawali) that is worth celebrating , and not leaving any Diya (earthen lamp) in isolation.

Om Maha Lakshmyaye Namah. Happy Diwali All Of You.

In the annals of human history, stories of unwavering spirit stand tall. Resurrection of Americans from catastrophic 9/11 attack on America in year 2001, is one such chronicle.

World Trade Centre, New York, before 9/11attack. Credit: istockphoto-155598273-612×612-1.jpg

This attack on USA by Al qayda terrorists, which killed 2,997 people, changed the world.

Of course it reduced the World Trade Centre, the symbol of financial might of America, into dust and debris, it couldn’t melt the steel resolve of people of America to emerge, rebuild and stand up again.

What Was 9/11 Attack On America?

On September 11, 2001, the two jetliners were hijacked by the terrorists and were made to slam in to the towers of World Trade Centre at New York.

Another aircraft was also hijacked by the terrorists and was crashed into the Pentagon, the official location of US defense establishment.

One more aircraft that was also hijacked with same ugly motive, but the passengers onboard averted it by trying to regain control of this airplane, which ultimately ended into plane crash in a field outside pennsylvania.

Actual War Goes Within.

Recovering from a setback is an inbuilt thing of nature. Man falls and stands up. sun gets eclipsed but shines again. Shadow of hopelessness and helplessness gives way to rays of motivation and strength.

Actual war goes within. If you feel defeated, you become defeated, and the vice versa.

One has to muster strength by collecting and spinning together the fibers of positivity and then weave them in to strong moral fabric. This was going on in America in the days that followed this incident.

Former presidents Ford, Carter, Bush, and Clinton joined president George W. Bush at the National Cathedral at Washington D.C. for the national day of prayer and remembrance on 14 September, 2001.

Later in the day President Bush rallied the rescue workers at ground zero. The workers, cheered and chanted in unison, responding to president’s impromptu speech delivered standing atop a crumpled fire truck.

Acknowledging the sounds of rescue workers doing their duty around, the president said, “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear soon.”

First Symbolic Befitting Reply to This Cowardice Attack.

President of America encouraged Americans to go back to work, and to challenge the terrorism by resuming their lives.

The message went home when in next month New York city’s Yankee Stadium became full with 55,820 baseball fans enjoying the match. President Bush took to the mound and threw the first pitch. It was a reply. it was a subtle and precise strike on terror by the blast of courage, spirit and enthusiasm.

America was mustering the internal strength of mind and courage, assuring the departed souls that their fellow citizens are not timid and subdued. They will fight back and will punish for sure, those ” who did it and those who harbour it (terrorism).”

Citizens Supported And Motivated Each Other.

In bad times motivations, however small , do wonder.

Children of School designed cards to encourage their nation. One depicted Statue of Liberty taking hose pipe in hand with its other end dipped in sea. And it pours water on the smouldering World Trade Centre Building.

Badge of a port authority police officer who was martyred in this attack was discovered from debris. President Bush held this badge in his hand and said in joint session of congress, “It is a police shield of a man named George Howard, Who died at W.T.C. trying to save others. ….This is my reminder of lives that ended and a task that doesn’t end.”

Media also didn’t let American prestige down by denying to cover the visuals of devastation, their country was in to.

This is how a subtle pledge was taken by citizens of America to give a logical conclusion to an war that was declared on them.

Pulses of Literary World.

Many poetry of introspection and hopefulness came pouring out of literary world. Poet, journalist, activist Kevin Powell writes:

“From remains of this madness, I detect a heartbeat called life. From remains of this madness, I smell an aroma called love. From remains of this madness, I embrace a body called humanity. From remains of this madness, I construct a dream called hope.

…………………………………………………………..Then resurrect a world, Where a new born rose will jut through the broken concrete.”

Finally,

Political, military and technical resources apart, it is the spirit will and mandate of the people, that fuels the victory.