Diwali and Narak Chaturdashi (2023)
Narak Chaturdashi is being commended on the fourteenth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashwin of the Hindu calendar. Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s most widely celebrated festivals, with people celebrating with great excitement and happiness. This season carries with it a lot of different celebrations. Families get an opportunity to meet up, finish their home works and partake in the rituals and holy beliefs in a traditional way. The entire area, including houses, streets, and shops, is enlightened with dazzling lights today. And, in a country like India, where there are 29 states, there are various ways of celebrating this festival and at the same time, the rituals are unique too.
Diwali/Narak Chaturdashi
From North India to South India, each state has an interesting method of celebrating Diwali. It’s a five-day occasion whose rush starts from 1 month prior. People shop for decorative items, jewelry, clothes, kitchen items, and many other things at low price. It is a festival dedicated to Lord Ramchandra. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya on this day after 14 years of exile.
He fought demons and the demon king Ravana, who was the mighty ruler of Lanka, throughout his exile. People in Ayodhya lit diyas to welcome Rama and celebrate his triumph as he returned. Since then, Diwali has been observed to commemorate the triumph of good over evil. Diwali isn’t just critical in view of its enormous fame and splendid presentations of firecrackers yet in addition since it represents the triumph of light over murkiness, of good over evil, and of information over obliviousness.
On this day people enlighten their houses with candles, and lights and worship lord Lakshmi. The significance of Diwali is that during Diwali, many individuals try to forgive others. It is undeniably a time when people forget about their differences. As a result, Diwali strengthens friendships and partnerships. People purge their hearts of any thoughts of hatred.
Narak Chaturdashi (Roop Chaturdashi)
After Dhanteras and before Diwali people celebrate Narak Chaturdashi which people commonly say as Chhoti Diwali or Roop Chaturdashi. In South India, the Diwali festival is known as Narak Chaudas. Hindus likewise call it as Kali Chaudas, as on this day Kali killed asura (Narakasura) and thus this day is distributed to adore Mahakali on which individuals need to cancel lethargy and malicious which makes damnation in our life and focus light on life.
Individuals clean their homes and decorate their houses intricately on this day. Some accept that Narak Chaturdashi is the day to clear out all the soil, trash, and evil from that point house. Some get ready uncommon face covers at home and apply them. Individuals additionally light up diyas in and around their homes and praise the day.
There are different stories around Narak Chaturdasi, however, significantly this celebration rotates around venerating Mahakali or Shakti. In some locales of Southern India, this celebration is otherwise called Deepavali Bhogi. This celebration has some easy to mysterious ceremonies, changing from one district to another; yet the vast majority of the customs are trailed by early morning oil showers, adornment of the spot of love, and offering naivedya, trailed by Puja.
On this day Hindus wake up earlier than expected. The men use perfumed oils before taking a bath. Thereafter, clean garments are worn; certain individuals wear new ones. An enormous breakfast is appreciated by family members and companions. In the evening, firecrackers are lit in an air of upbeat fun and commotion. Extraordinary sweet dishes are filled in as a component of the noontime feast. House is lit with oil lights (candles and diyas) during the evening.
In India, festivities are incomplete without wonderful cuisine, and Narak Chaturdashi is no exception. After all of the rites, the day begins with a very extravagant breakfast that contains some intriguing recipes, as is customary. Overall the festival is filled with joy, love, happiness, and worship.
By- Sania Mishra