Diwali: A Multi-layered Festival

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Just as so many things were generated by the Churning of the Milk Ocean (Samudra Manthan), so many festivals spring from this event, and other divine events that took place while these festivals were being observed.

Last year I was invited to give a talk on the Diwali Festival at a large, international investment bank in the City of London. It was the first time they’d invited anyone - ever - to give a talk on religion. Events being what they were at that time in London I chose my words carefully and spoke about some of the benefits of religion before focusing specifically on Diwali.

The ‘Festival of Lights’ has become the point of interface for many people with the Hindu community, and it has become quite the thing for the ordinary British person to show how broad-minded they are by explaining to their friends: “Oh yes, we went to a Diwali party and had a great time…” Diwali is celebrated in London’s Trafalgar Square, in Parliament, and in other public places through fireworks and entertainment.

Before anyone writes to me and exclaims that: “But Srila Prabhupada said that Diwali is not a Vaishnava festival…” may I refer you to my last post and explain that devotees are being invited to these events, and hosting others at our temple, and in so doing are finding many ways to introduce newcomers to KRISHNA.

The Milk Ocean episode is commemorated in many cultures: in Cambodia, Indonesia, India, (even St Pauls Cathedral has a sculpture of it!) This one is a large public sculpture at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

Of course, because there are so many narratives connected with the period of Diwali it is such a popular festival for all strands of religion found in India, and almost everyone celebrates it. As Vaishnavas though, we particularly focus on the return of Lord Rama and Sita to their home of Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. We light up our homes and temples with candles on that night in celebration of their glorious return. And because during this period fifty centuries ago, Lord Krishna’s father Nanda Maharaja, had arranged the annual worship of Indra but was thwarted in his plans by a very talkative child Krishna, we celebrate the lifting of Govardhana Hill.

If you want to listen to a very good musical production of this story please visit: www.nectarofdevotion.co.uk and go to ‘Part Three.’ You will be delighted, and you can also listen - and read along - to a class Srila Prabhupada gave in 1966 on the occasion of Govardhana Puja. And for the curious amongst my readers, here’s the last part of my talk, describing the various celebrations which mark the Diwali period:

” The other day I was in the House of Commons where, for the past four years, there has been a Parliamentary celebration of Diwali. Its one of the few times of the year you’ll get to see the leaders of different parties come to the same function! So Gordon Brown was there and David Cameron, and a host of others – all sporting the red tika marking on their foreheads and lighting candles in the MPs dining room. So why Diwali? Well, if you’d been there in Trafalgar Square two days ago you would have seen why: 25,000 people from all different strands of society, all united by a common celebration.

Does anyone here celebrate Christmas who is not from a Christian background? I thought so! Well Diwali is like that in India. Each state in India celebrates in its own way but everybody celebrates it. Incidentally, more than 60 years ago India’s Muslims would also celebrate too. And the Hindus would celebrate Eid.

Dhanvantari, who brought the science of Ayurvedic medicine

DAY 1 – DHANVANTARI TRAYODASHI (13^th day of the lunar month)

Dhanteras. One of the great stories is the account of the churning of the milk ocean. Just after creation the forces of good and evil agreed to work together to churn the ocean of milk. They used an enormous snake for the churning rope, and a mountain for the rod. From the ocean many things arose, including Dhanvantari the giver of the science of medicine. You might be surprised to hear that in the nearby St. Pauls Cathedral there is one carving of this event as part of a plaque commemorating one great mans role in British India. Not many know about this – so next time you go just up the road do have a look.

DAY 2 – NARAKA CHATURDASI (14^th Day of the lunar month)

Known as ‘Choti Diwali’. Krishna, the great speaker of the Bhagavad-gita – sometimes known as the Hindu Bible - and his wife Satyabhama went to defeat a demonic king Naraka. This king had kidnapped 16,100 princesses. He was defeated and this famous battle is commemorated today.

Lakshmi, the eternal consort of Lord Vishnu, appears from the Ocean

DAY 3 – AMAVASYA (Night of the New Moon or dark moon night)

Badi Diwali and for some the main day. Laxmi Puja. This is the day for the worship of Laxmi the consort of Vishnu, and the Goddess of Wealth. This is the day when she emerged from an ocean of milk (story) On this day Laxmi is very pleased when anyone makes an offering to her. So on this day you’ll see all the Indian businessmen and especially accountants making their puja very energetically.

Vaishnavas celebrate the evening return of Sita Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman, when their capital city was lit by lamps

Perhaps the most famous story. Ramayana story. Lord Rama returns on this night. The citizens of Ayodhya lit lamps for the first time in 14 years. Laxmi herself in the form of Sita was coming. Rama is the symbol of good and Ravana of evil. People remember the victory of good.

Lord Krishna lifts the Govardhana Hill to protect the inhabitants of Vrindavana from the devastating rainfall of Indra

DAY 4 – KARTIK SHUDDHA PADYAMI

Bali Padyami – this is the day King Bali began his rule. This also the day of Govardhan Puja.

Yama, the judge of all our deeds at the end of our life visits his sister on this day. This painting is from Thailand

DAY 5 – YAMA DVITIYA – BHAI DOOJ

Yamaraja, the judge of all our deeds, both good and bad, visited his sister Yamuna. She gave him arti, tika, garland, nice dishes and sweets. If a brother visits his sister on this day he gets wealth and health.

During the entire period of Diwali Hindus will clean their homes, go shopping for new clothes, make offerings and do little ceremonies, visit friends and distribute sweets, light fireworks and let off crackers. Almost one weeks holiday!

But just when you’re trying to remember all the days of Diwali I must mention the Sikhs. Now the 3^rd day of Diwali is a very special day for them too since it is the day when the 6^th guru Guru Har Govindji came back from captivity in the jail of Gwalior city fort and people lit up his path with lamps from outside Amritsar, all the way to the Shri Har Mandir Sahib: the Golden Temple.

And finally, it is also the day when Bhagavan Mahaveer, the founder of the Jain religion, attained the ultimate mystical revelation of nirvana.

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