• Read about the significance of Diwali, why are Diyas lit, Six Virtues of wealth and Why is Lakshmi Puja done on Diwali.

Magnitude of the revolution of the Earth around the Sun brings about different seasons, six Ritus as per the Hindu calendar.

With the arrival of Hemant Ritu the pleasant pre-winter season, when the leaves turn gold to let new leaves take their place and a nip in the air, brings the scent of festivity to the air.

Beginning from Sharad Poornima (October 9, 2022) till the Kartik Poornima (November 8, 2022), the entire month is festive, the most awaited one being Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Kartik is considered the month of Shri Vishnu because the astronomical conditions are conducive for good health, wealth, prosperity. Kartik is also the month of victory because of Shivputra Bhagwan Kartikey’s victory over Tarakasur, Shri Ram’s victory over Ravan, Shri Krishna’s victory over Varah putra Bhaumasur and Devi Lakshmi’s over darkness.

But many people rant, including sometimes the Judiciary, calling it the festival of pollution hence the fire-works industry has been repeatedly targeted. Children are brainwashed when schools call Diwali a cultural and not religious festival. “Diwali history is a contested one, torn between myth and appropriation” said a 2021 article in ThePrint. Are such views are expressed for Indian festivals only!

Hindu traditions are an easy target. On pollution we look at the effect more than the cause. Also read IIT-Kanpur study says trucks and road dust are bigger contributors to Delhi’s pollution than cars N To mitigate air pollution in Delhi look beyond tokenism N Mining in Aravalis has increased Delhi pollution N Red Signals from Meat

Do not be apologetic, decolonise your mind!

Kashi 2013.

Every Hindu Festival, Ritual or Tradition has a reason i.e. backed by wisdom. It is for us to know the reason. After all it is the Hindu civilisation that gave the world the concepts of co-existence and reverence since all beings are made up of the same five elements or pancha bhuta. Also read Why do Hindus worship animals

On Kartik Poornima, using the north-eastern monsoon winds that blow from mid-November, the ancient Hindu mariners sailed to Sri Lanka, down the Straits of Malacca towards Palembang to Sumatra, Bali, Yavadwip, Borneo and Vietnam. The Malays, Indonesians, Bornean, Viet, Burmese, Sri Lankans, Cambodians, also Thai and Laotian, worship and light lamps on Kartik Poornima even today.

See album Festival of Lights or Loy Krathong as it is called in Thailand

Ramayana Southeast Asia. Pic by Benoy K Behl.

Hindu festivals, traditions and rituals have attached benefits on human mind and body because of their occurrences on particular Ritus/ seasons and astronomical conditions. Read on.

Festivals in Kartik Month

Karwa Chauth- falls on Chaturthi/ fourth day of Kartik, the day the slain head of Ganesh ji landed on the moon and Shivji brought his son back to life. The moon on this day is seen as Shiva and his son as Ganesh ji.

Moon symbolizes the subconscious and conscious mind. Hindu women observe a fast, for stability in married life and worship the Moon God. They break their fast only after offering Him Argya/water from an earthen pot known as Karwa. Now days some men have started fasting along with their wives.

Ahoi Ashtami- To ward off the darkness caused due to the Sun’s transit, the Vedic Rishis started the tradition of Akaash Deep daan- lighting up Mandirs, river banks and neighbourhood with oil lamps starting from Ahoi Ashtami/ 8th day of Kartik.

कृष्णपक्षे विशेषेण पुत्र पंचदिनानि च।

पुण्यानि तेषु यो दत्ते दीपं सोऽक्षयमाप्नुयात्।

Lighting lamps from Krishna Paksh Rama Ekadashi till Deepawali on Amavasya is very auspicious and brings positivity and peace.

Govatsa Dwadashi, Dhanwantari Triyodashi, Narak Chaturdashi and Deepawali are celebrated on the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th days of this month because in the Krita/Sata Yug, from Samudra Manthan, had incarnated on Dwadashi of Kartik, the Divine Cow Kamadhenu, on Trayodashi Bhagwan Dhanwantri, Maa Kali on Chaturdashi and Mata Lakshmi on Amavasya of Kartik.

Govatsa Dwadashi/ Nandini Vrat - October 21, 2022, 5.23 pm till 6.30 pm on October 22nd.

Hindus pay gratitude to the Holy Cow for their contribution in the sustenance of human life.  

Dhan Trayodashi - October 22nd, 2022, 6.30 pm till 6.03 pm on October 23rd.

Shri Vishnu Bhagwan incarnated as the Devta of Ayurveda carrying an Amrit Kalash on this day. 

Dev Guru Brihaspati asked the Devtas to worship Kuber ji, the Devta of all treasures and Mata Lakshmi on this day for prosperity. Hence, along with Bhagwan Dhanwantri, Mata Lakshmi and Kuber ji are worshipped on Dhanteras.

A deepak is lit in reverence to Yama, the Devta of death worshipping whom one is protected from untimely death. 

Narak Chaturdashi - October 23rd, 2022, 6.04 pm till 5.28 pm on 24th October.

On the 14th day of the Krishna Paksha of Kartik month, Shri Krishna slayed Varaha’s son Bhaumasur/Narkasur. His holy bath after smearing Narkasur’s blood on his forehead as a mark of victory, is called Abhyanga Snan. Hindus follow the tradition of ritualistic herbal scrubs and oil-bath early in the morning on Narak Chaturdashi.

People of Dwarka lit lamps to welcome the victorious Krishna, who returned with 1600 Arya women captured by Bhaumasur. Before dying he wished this day be celebrated as Narak Chaturdashi. 

This day is also celebrated as Kali Chaudas also since Maa Kali had incarnated on the same tithi, the Krishna Paksh Chaturdashi of Kartik month.

On this tithi itself, Bhagwan Vishnu had promised to visit Raja Bali every year.

Hanuman ji was also born on same tithi. Hence in Ayodhya at Hanumangarhi, His jayanti is celebrated on this day. Some consider Hanuman Jayanti to be on Chaitra Poornima. 

Why do Hindus light Deepak?

Being nearest to the Aakash Tatva, the energy provider Agni is invoked in a deepak to become one with the celestial dimension/Cosmic energy and to energise one’s magnetic field.

When Maa Lakshmi incarnated in Sata Yuga, Devtas lit Deepak’s in Her honour.

In Treta Yug, on the victorious return of Shri Ram, the people of Ayodhya lit Deepaks.

In Dwapar Yuga, Deepaks were lit for Shri Krishna’s victory over Bhaumasur.

Deepawali/ Lakshmi Pooja - 24th October 2022, 5.28pm till 4.18 pm on 25th October.

Diwali in Canada.

For three days, from Dhanteras to Amavasya, Raja Bali lit lamps for Yama and worshipped Lakshmi ji to be rid of fear from death and poverty.

Wealth as per Hindu Dharma, has six virtues namely, Saam meaning a calm mind, Daam is awareness of one’s thoughts and deeds, Uparati is being unaffected by external objects and circumstances, Titiksha means remaining neutral- no likes or dislikes, Shraddha is devotion, and Samadhan is focus on your goal. 

Devi Lakshmi bestows such wealth, good luck, success and grace. Hence Lakshmi pooja is a major tradition during Deepawali.

This day is also celebrated as Kedar Gowri Vrat because on this tithi, Shiva became Ardhanarishwara, one with Devi Parvati.

Devi Saraswati’s worship on this day is called Sharda Pooja. New account books are worshipped as Chopad Pooja.

In Jaina Darsana Diwali divas is when the 24^th Tirthankara Bhagwan Mahvir attained moksha at Pawapuri, Bihar. See album of Pawapuri

Govardhan Puja - October 26th, 2022, 6.33 - 8.48 am.

On the Shukla Paksha Pratipada of Kartik, Krishna saved the Brajwasis from the flooding rain by securing them under the Govardhan Parvat. He did this for seven days and told them about the importance of cow/live-stock and environment. Worshipping cows and nature, cooking 56 Bhog/Annakut for Shri Krishna continues as a tradition for Hindus. See album Govardhan Parikrama

This day is also observed as Bali Pratipada Pooja. Raja Bali visits Bhulok/ Earth for three days and blesses his devotees on this day. Also read Bali Yatra Odisha

Bhai Dooj - 26th October, 2022, 2.43 pm till 3.30 pm on October 27th

Surya putra Yama Dev visited his sister Yamuna/ Yami on the Shukla Paksha Dwitiya of Kartik month, called Bhratri Dwitiya, Yama Dvitiya or Bhai Dooj. Pleased with Yami’s love and devotion, Yama professed that the brothers who visit their sisters on this day to check on their well-being will be protected from all evil and be blessed with a long life.

Traditionally speaking siblings take a holy bath in river Yamuna on this day.

Also, Subhadra welcomed and worshipped her brother Shri Krishna when he visited her on this tithi after returning from his victory over Bhaumasur.

Chitragupta Jayanti

On the same tithi was born the seventeenth Manas putr of Brahma ji, Bhagwan Chitragupta who keeps account of the deeds of living beings. He is worshipped by Hindus on the Shukla Paksha Dwitiya of Kartik month.

Chhath Pooja (October 30, 2022)

The Rigvedic people are believed to have lived on solar energy for four days from the 4th day to the 7th day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartik.

Chhat pooja is a tradition that has continued since the time immemorial. Devotees fast all four days and worship Surya Devta, the prime source of energy that sustains life on Earth - Usha the first ray of the Sun and Pratyusha, the last ray of the setting Sun. Read Significance of Chhat Pooja

Prabodhini Ekadashi/Devotthan Ekadashi - 3rd Nov 2022, 7.30 pm till 6.08 pm on 4th November.

The 11th day of Shukla Paksh of the Kartik month is Prabodhini Ekadashi/ Devotthan Ekadashi when Vishnu ji wakes up from His Chaturmas sleep in Kshirsagar, the four months when no auspicious tasks take place.

Tulsi Vivah (November 5)

Tulsi Vivah being celebrated in Sangli, Maharashtra.

Tulsi being Vishnu Priya, is wedded to Shaligram on this day to invoke Shri Hari Vishnu and seek His blessings. Read about Tulsi Vivaha

Dev Deepawali - 7th November 2022, 4.15 pm till 4.31 pm on 8th November.

Ganga Aarti in Kashi on Dev Deepavali is spectacular. Pic by Sanjay Rao.

On Kartik Poornima, Brahma ji incarnated from Brahma Sarovar, Pushkar. 

It is also called Tripurari Purnima. Due to this tithi Tripurari Shiva, performing Tandav, burnt cities of asur Tarakasur’s three sons Tarakah, Kamalaksh and Vidyutmali and descends to bathe in Ganga.

Also see albums of Dev Deepavali Kashi N Pushkar during Kartik Purnima

Diwali illuminates Bharat from Earth to the Skies. This Diwali light up every Mandir with Deepaks even if it lies in ruins because as per Shastra, once Pratishthit the Deity never leaves the Mandir even if the Pratima or the Mandir structure is damaged. Hindus have had a long history of Tapasvis, kings and commoners engaging in repairs of Mandirs. 

Humble request – do not let the fabricated narrative around Deepawali kill the divinity, charm and grandeur that our ancestors have passed down to us generation after generation. 

To read all articles by author 

Also read

1. Diwali in New Jersey

2. Diwali in Canada

3. Diwali in London

4. Diwali – A heady cocktail of Fun, Frolic and Philosophy