{"id":4662,"date":"2012-11-02T18:52:19","date_gmt":"2012-11-02T18:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/?page_id=4662"},"modified":"2012-11-02T19:05:15","modified_gmt":"2012-11-02T19:05:15","slug":"diwali-5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/diwali-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Diwali 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

DIWALI TODAY
\nDiwali has become a five-day festival held on the October\/November new moon. It has different shades of meaning in different places. In north India, Diwali concentrates on Rama and Sita’s homecoming, in Gujarat, the invocation of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, is central (remember Lakshmi was incarnated as Sita); whilst in Bengal, it is more associated with Kali (qv). Everywhere, Diwali is said to signify the renewal of life, and the start of a new business year. Lamps are everywhere and fireworks are set off, in order to frighten away evil spirits.
\nHindu writer Malini Bisen claims that Diwali “symbolises that age-old culture of our country which teaches us to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge. Diwali, the festival of lights even to-day in this modern world projects the rich and glorious past of our country and teaches us to uphold the true values of life.” Diwali is very bright and great fun for children on the surface, but underneath, despite Bisen’s glowing words, demonic, pagan forces are at work.<\/p>\n

THE FIRST DAY
\nThe first day is called ‘Dhanteras’ Or ‘DhantrayodashI’ from “Dhan” meaning wealth. The idea is to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, in preparation for the third and central day. ‘Rangolis’ are drawn which are designs of ‘good luck’ symbols. A new utensil – preferably silver – is bought for the house, which has to be cleaned, washed and whitewashed. Lakshmi will only visit places which are clean and tidy.
\nThe children are taken out to buy crackers, candles, earthen diyas and a hatri (a small house-like structure made of mud, where a small idol of Lakshmi sits in the middle). A idol of Ganesh, the elephant god, is set up, because Ganesh has to be worshipped before any other god or goddess.
\n“Bhajans” – devotional songs – in praise of Lakshmi are sung, near a sacred tree in the back-yard. “Lakshmi-Puja” (‘puja’ means ‘worship’) is performed in the evening when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits, in particular, Yam, the god of death. However, lamps are kept burning through the night in adoration of Yam. In south India, cows are adorned and worshipped as they are supposed to be another incarnation of Lakshmi, and are symbols of wealth. In Nepal, crows are worshipped and offered food.<\/p>\n

THE SECOND DAY
\nThe second day is called ‘Narak-Chaturdashi’ or ‘Choti Diwal’, and commemorates a myth in which Krishna killed the demon Narkasur and recovered some earrings. Women are supposed to bathe their husbands and rub scented oil into their bodies as a tribute to Krishna’s hard work. The Nepalese worship dogs, praying to their own dog to guard their house. The day also venerates the god – or demon – Bali, the lord of the underworld, and celebrates a myth in which Vishnu gave Bali the ‘lamp of knowledge’ and allowed him to return to earth once a year “to light millions of lamps to dispel darkness and ignorance and spread the radiance of love and wisdom.” The day is also known as ‘Kali-Chaudas’ in some parts, and Kali is worshipped. At some stage during Diwali, the people mix kumkum or vermilion in oil and apply it to their foreheads as mock blood, again in honour of Krishna.<\/p>\n

THE THIRD DAY
\nThe third and central day of the festival of Diwali is called ‘Lakshmi-Puja’ and is devoted to the propitiation of Lakshmi, with bells and drums played in the temples. Sweets are offered to the goddess, there is feasting and gifts are exchanged. Astrologically, the sun is believed to pass the constellation of Libra which is represented by the scales. Therefore, Hindu account books are balanced and a new accounting year begins. According to IndiaA2Z, shopkeepers and merchants actually worship their account books and merchandise on this day in a ceremony known as ‘chopda pujan’.
\nMalini Bisen writes: “a blaze of light descends down to earth from heaven as golden-footed Deep-Lakshmi alights on earth in all her celestial glory amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. A living luminance of Universal Motherhood envelopes the entire world in that blessed moment of fulfilment of a long-awaited dream of the mortal. A sublime light of knowledge dawns upon humanity and devotion of man finally conquers ignorance. This self enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the palaces of the wealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor. It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty and prosperity.”
\nThe Bible says: 2Cor 11:14: Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
\nIn practice the night sees a rash of gambling, as it is believed that the goddess Parvathi played dice with her husband Shiva on this day and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuring year. Various gods and gurus including Krishna, Bhagwan Mahavir, the Jain guru and Swami Dayanand Saraswati, are believed to have attained “Nirvana” on this day. Cows may also be worshipped on this day.<\/p>\n

THE FOURTH DAY
\nThe fourth day is Padwa or Varshapratipada. Oxen are worshipped in Nepal, given garlands to wear and anointed on the forehead with the tika mark. The worship of Lakshmi (or Laxmi) continues everywhere, for every Hindu household seeks the blessings of this demonic entity for success and happiness. This day – new year’s day for merchants – is looked upon as religiously auspicious to start any new venture. Account books are again venerated in a ceremony of ‘muharat pujan”. The website indianchild.com, says: “In the Indian culture, wealth is not viewed as a corruptive power. Instead, a wealthy person is considered to have been rewarded for good deeds of a past life, i.e karma.”
\nIn many Hindu homes it is a custom “for the wife to put the red tilak on the forehead of her husband, garland him and do his “Aarathi” with a prayer for his long life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly gift.” Bisen also states: “On this day newly-married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents.” With what we shall find out later about dowry-killings, the gifts will need to be substantial.<\/p>\n

THE FIFTH DAY
\nThe FIFTH and final day of Diwali Festival is known by the name of “Bhayya-Duj” and in Nepal by the name of “Bhai-Tika”. As the legend goes, Yamraj the God of Death visited his sister Yami on this particular day. She put the tilak or tika sign on his forehead, garlanded him, fed him and they exchanged presents. Accordingly, brothers and sisters are supposed to mimic the actions of Yam and Yami. Thus concludes the festival of Diwali, one of the most important Hindu feasts. But what of Hinduism as a whole?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Get this important resource free in booklet form when you join Christian Voice in November 2012. Find out how to join and stand up for the King of kings by clicking below (clicking on the link below does not commit you to join).<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DIWALI TODAY Diwali has become a five-day festival held on the October\/November new moon. It has different shades of meaning in different places. In north India, Diwali concentrates on Rama and Sita’s homecoming, in Gujarat, the invocation of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, is central (remember Lakshmi was incarnated as Sita); whilst in Bengal, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":80,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4662","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Stephen","author_link":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/author\/stephen\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":null,"rttpg_excerpt":"DIWALI TODAY Diwali has become a five-day festival held on the October\/November new moon. It has different shades of meaning in different places. In north India, Diwali concentrates on Rama and Sita’s homecoming, in Gujarat, the invocation of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, is central (remember Lakshmi was incarnated as Sita); whilst in Bengal,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4662\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christianvoice.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}