Deepavali-Light Up Your Life!

Deepavali Celebrations
In India, Deepavali is normally a one day celebration although preparations are made weeks in advance, especially with the making of Deepavali cakes and savories.
Before the arrival of Deepavali, families busy themselves cleaning and washing their houses and cleaning their compounds. A day before Deepavali, the womenfolk draw koelam in and around the house.
The mango leaves which hang in front of the door of every Hindu home are changed. Santanam (sandal paste) and kunggumam pottu are placed on these leaves. This signifies auspiciousness.
Every one gets up early in the morning, well before 5am, on Deepavali day. The mother or wife puts a dash of gingerly oil on the forehead of the children or husband. The woman of the house gets this singular honor because women are considered goddesses from the Hindu point of view and on Deepavali day this view of women is emphasized. They represent the Goddess Lakshmi, symbol of material and spiritual prosperity. This act stresses the crucial role of the mother-figure, and of women generally, in the home and society. It reminds the men in the family to treat their mother, wife, sisters and women in general, with respect. The oil bath is acknowledged by Indian sages and ayurvedic physicians to be beneficial to health. The oil bath is purificatory in intent and is a symbolic rite, a symbolic cleansing leading to a new beginning. That is why an oil bath on this day is considered equivalent to a bath in the holy Ganges River.
New clothes, on which a dash of santhanam is placed on the eve of Deepavali, are then worn. The whole family gathers for the Lakshmi puja in their home shrine. Following this, the children prostrate at the feet of their parents and crave their blessings. The wife touches the feet of her husband for his blessing. He then puts the kunguma pottuon her forehead. Through this act, the son and daughter ask for forgiveness from their parents for any wrong they may have done, for any harsh words spoken, for any selfishness shown. The parents not only forgive them but, with open-palmed hands, bless them with health, wealth, wisdom and God-consciousness. By touching the feet of the husband, the Indian wife acknowledges that he is her first god. Through the act, she asks for forgiveness and blessings. The husband blesses her, then puts the kungumam pottu indicating his love for her. By placing the sacred kungumam pottu on her forehead, the husband is reminded that she is the Goddess Lakshmi and he should treat her as befitting a goddess. The act reminds him that he has to be faithful to her. By marrying him, she gave up everything to come with him. He is therefore reminded to care for her and give her a good live.They then go to the temple to pray.
Then the whole family sit down for their Deepavali breakfast. Cakes and goodies are then given to neighbors, and guests are treated to a joyful time. On Deepavali day only vegetarian food must be eaten. There must be no consumption of alcohol. The celebrants should try to be as “pure” in their thought, word and deed as possible on this day.
Lights
Light is the most important of the Deepavali symbols. Light brings warmth and illumination. By having lights in the house, one is reminded to always light up one’s own life and to bring light into the lives of others to be, in effect positive thinker. One is reminded to wake up from the slumber of ignorance and to pursue knowledge, whether secular or spiritual, although the latter should, to the devout Hindu, be the ultimate goal. As light dispels darkness, so should knowledge dispel ignorance. Acquiring knowledge is therefore of great importance and a man is expected to pursue it with intensity of purpose. Through learning, man is expected to advance to the stage of enlightenment in which he realizes that God is the Light of lights, that God brings warmth and love and illumination to all beings and therefore there can be no light greater than God.
And where is this light to be found. The Hindu sages say: “The light is within you. Meditate and become aware of this light. Withdraw the senses and fix the mind on this self-luminous light in order to enjoy the real Deepavali.”
The Aim Of Deepavali
The aim of Deepavali celebrations is to get man moving on the spiritual path and ultimately attain illumination, become one with God. One need not be a Hindu to do this. Every man can go about it his way, following the percepts of his own religion.
Hindu sages hold that outer appearances are not significant, only the essence is. And the essence is that every being is a creation of the same God although that God is called by many names just as what is called water in English is called thanni in Tamil, chooi in Hokkien, and air in Bahasa Malaysia although all these words describe the same thing.
Deepavali reminds one of the goal of life according to the Indian view : the merging of the Atma (individual soul) in the Paramatma (Universal Soul).
As they light the lamps in their houses, those celebrating Deepavali are reminded to light the lamps of wisdom, goodness and God-consciousness in themselves. It is through this that they can attain the “Light of Lights” - God.
May all be blessed with excellent health,peace,fullness,auspiciousness;