Celebrate the festival of Joy-Diwali in a meaningful way
Deepawali, or Diwali, is one of my favourite festivals as it celebrates the festival of lights. Each house is adorned with beautiful decorative Diya, and I love lighting them one by one, placing them in every nook and corner of the home. Every house is decorated with rangoli and flowers welcoming the arrival of Sri Ram, Sita Mata, Laxman, and Hanuman back to Ayodhya after their fourteen-year exile, having defeated Ravan.
The festival wouldn't be complete without indulging in various sweets and savouries, making it a time of great joy. Each household has different treats, and as a child, I always felt thrilled to see what was inside the gift wrappers. And how could I forget the excitement of bursting crackers? From flower pots and zameen chakli to hydrogen bombs and rockets, I loved lighting them all off.
The importance of Deepawali Diwali
Diwali isn't just about fun; it holds a deeper significance. The small pagaliya (legs) of Kumkum symbolize the belief that Goddess Lakshmi will visit our homes, bestowing them prosperity, wealth, and happiness. We welcome Maa Lakshmi by turning on all the lights of our homes, and lighting beautiful Diya’s at the entrance of the house and in the pooja rooms to brighten up our surroundings.
Since Diwali represents knowledge over ignorance, we also worship books, believing that with knowledge, prosperity follows. But is that all Diwali entails?
How can we make the festival special and 4 unique preparations we must undertake for this
1) Clear out this Diwali
a) Declutter material things -
A clean, fresh, and organized space is thought to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, showering us with blessings and prosperity. Conversely, letting go by decluttering and donating items like clothes, handbags, and shoes that have been unused for over a year makes room for new things, positive energy and happiness. The lesson is about prioritizing knowledge over ignorance. This lesson is also an opportunity for personal growth. Is it just material items that need sorting? There's more to it than that.
b) Clear out mental clutter-
It’s not just about physical clutter that matters. Clearing and getting rid of the mental clutter is equally important. Negative thoughts, grudges, pain, guilt, performance stress, and other feelings— whether consciously or unconsciously given space in our mind —hold us back from evolving into our better selves and stifle our growth. This Diwali, let’s focus on decluttering both our homes and our minds.
2) Engage in creating something new together
a) Cook a dish as a team
Whether it’s sweets like Gulab jamun or groundnut chikki or savoury snacks like rice flakes chivda or mathri, preparing food together fosters support and makes the dish tastier too. This is because the shared experience enhances the flavours and creates lasting memories.
b) Decorate the house as a group
Creating a simple flower rangoli or arranging decorative Diya’s as a family will brighten our smiles and strengthen relationships. Hang beautiful serial lights to illuminate your balconies and pooja area, and craft a DIY toran using neem and mango leaves to adorn the entrance. After all, Diwali is about unity and celebrating triumph. Togetherness makes the celebration more meaningful. Brings to mind another ritual to foster peace.
c) Conduct a simple Diwali pooja
It can be as simple as lightening a Deepak while starting the pooja and offering homemade sweets and snacks to Ganeshji and Lakshmiji with genuine devotion. Chant simple Diwali mantras of Ganeshji like "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah” (ॐ गं गणपतयेनमः) and Lakshmi ji mantra of "Om Hreem Shreem Kleem Maha Lakshmi Namaha.” (ॐ श्रींह्रींक्रींश्र सिद्ध ्क्ष्म्यैनम:) A mantra of Ganeshji and Lakshmiji is a prayer to attract an abundance of peace and prosperity. These mantras can be chanted by us while performing pooja, or they can also be played on our digital gadgets as chanting and listening to mantras is a way to calm ourselves, reduce thoughts and stress and strengthen the spiritual connection and a sense of being one with the divine. Engaging in these small rituals strengthens bonds and fosters a sense of peace for you and your family.
3) Capture Diwali Magic
A Timeless Tradition In today's digital age, our precious memories often fade into the vast expanse of online storage. Let's reclaim the joy of reliving cherished moments by starting a new tradition this Diwali by creating a jar of memory.
a) Write Your Memories
Each year, jot down your favourite Diwali memories. These could be funny moments, heartwarming presence of elders at home, or simply reflections on the festival's significance.
b) Give a Visual Presence to them
Select a few special photographs that capture your Diwali celebrations. Place your written memories and chosen photographs in a beautiful jar. In the following year, gather your loved ones and open the memory jar. As you read each heartfelt note and revisit the captured moments, you'll create a bond of nostalgia and shared laughter.
This simple yet powerful activity fosters appreciating the present by reflection; acknowledging the joys of the past builds thankfulness and sharing positive memories strengthens relationships. Engaging in these small rituals strengthens bonds and fosters a sense of peace for you and your family.
4) Learn a skill in this festival
Diwali is all about lights, glow and warmth. Any piece created by oneself lifts our spirits and vitality, and the delight of seeing it transform into a stunning wall piece or a sparkling Diya makes it much more precious. Recycling old glass jars or scrap cardboard boxes can be used to make Diwali decorations. There are various rangoli designs made from fresh fragrant flowers or simple dot rangoli designs that can be made at the entrance of our home. Making a beautiful toran (door hanging) out of neem and mango leaves and learning how to make them from a friend or someone who knows it encourages us to be a learner at all times and welcome positivity into our lives.
Out of the box Diwali celebrations that matter a lot
a) Give something new to those in need or the community
Deepavali represents celebration, spreading joy, and happiness. So why should we limit our generosity to a narrow circle of friends and family? This Diwali, let’s widen our scope of giving small gifts or chocolates to community members like security staff, housekeeping, or visits to a nearby ashram, and experience the joy reflected in others’ eyes. This enhances the festival’s significance for everyone.
b) Buy locally this Diwali
Diwali is all about spreading joy and creating smiles. Purchase things such as paper lanterns, floating candles, Diya’s, sweets, and gift items from local craftsmen, potters, and small business owners. Even though they work in a small group, their quality and flavour far outperform that of larger market names. Furthermore, alternatives such as Deepawali cards and paper bags for packing can be customized to meet our preferences. This is an option to enlighten and spread the light of wealth while also strengthening the community by making it a truly meaningful celebration.
c) Brighten up the world this Diwali
Doing something different, unique and out of the box is something that everyone looks up to. The entire planet will be more beautiful if every one of us does our share to help Mother Earth. Along with enjoying and celebrating this year with lights, make this Diwali a life-changing event. A life of a tree. Plant a tree, or gift a tree to your special ones by adding a long-lasting relationship by making a difference.
Everyone celebrates for self but by doing small little things like these for the community, we'll ensure that the magic of Diwali continues to shine year after year in everyone's lives. Wishing all readers a safe, joyful and prosperous Deepawali!