A Glowing Diwali From Kashmir To Kanyakumari

17 October 2017
4 mins read

Diwali is the festival of enlightenment. It urges us to light every corner of our mind and soul. Even the tradition of worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, together, teaches us that wealth without wisdom, money without intelligence and richness without prosperity is nugatory. Millions of people across India and the world celebrate this wisdom - some by lighting diyas, some by floating them in the waters of the Golden Temple and others by worshipping Goddess Kali and Lord Krishna. Yes, Diwali truly strings India together as flowers in a ‘bandanwar’ and here is a little glimpse into it.

KASHMIR:

The valley of flowers celebrates Diwali as Sukhsuptika, which literally means ‘sleep with happiness’. Celebrations that start from Ekadeshi last till Diwali, the night of amavasya, when Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Sweet puris are then offered to Lord Narayan, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and diyas are lit in temples, on roads, under trees and even the banks of rivers. The darkness is conquered with light of happiness and belief.

**PUNJAB:**

In 1577 the foundation stone of The Golden Temple in Amritsar was laid on Diwali. And then Diwali attained unmatched significance when the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib returned safely from the captivity of the Mughals. True to his teachings, he also managed the release of 52 Indian Kings with him. When he headed to The Golden Temple, sweets were distributed and multi-coloured lights were floated on the waters there. The tradition continues to this day. Every year Sikhs across the world celebrate Diwali with sweets, light and fireworks. It symbolises the victory of good over greed, ego and hatred.

**WEST BENGAL:**

Every year people of Bengal, Orissa and Assam worship goddess Kali on Diwali. This festival is famous as Kali Puja, Shyama Puja or Dipanwita Kali Puja. According to the Hindu calendar the Kali Puja may fall on the same day as Diwali or a day ahead on the new moon day. Legend has it that Goddess Durga turned into an angry Goddess Kali to end the terrorising rule of demons Shambhu and Nishambhu. Such was the power of her anger that Lord Shiva had to throw himself at her feet to stop her from destroying everything in her path. People celebrate this pious occasion by making merry, wearing new clothes & jewellery, decorating their houses with flowers & rangoli and light diyas. People celebrate the win over negativity and pray for happiness, wealth and wisdom.

**TAMIL NADU:**

In Tamil Nadu, Diwali is celebrated a day before Diwali in northern India. Interestingly they celebrate Diwali in honour of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabama victory over the demonic King Narkasura. Houses are renovated, painted and adorned with flowers and rangoli. Uniquely, on the second day of celebrations, an elaborate bath ritual takes place. This ritual symbolises a bath in the holy river Ganges to purify mind, body and soul. The elaborate ritual where elders bless the youngsters by applying oil in their heads and bathe with exotic herbs. This is then followed by the consumption of ‘Deepavali Lehiyan’, before breakfast. This is an Ayurvedic concoction of herbal ingredients that are believed to detoxify the body. Feasts are cooked which include boondi, poli, omapudi and more. Crackers are burst and ‘kuthu vilaku’ or diyas are lit to spread the light of goodness and prosperity in everyone’s life.

Diwali is the ultimate detoxification for our souls. Families come together, neighbours meet, friends take out time from their busy lifestyles over parties and prayers. The sense of inclusiveness and revelry negates any negativity within and leaves us with a beautiful glow of happiness in our lives. We at Kama Ayurveda wish that every day of your life is lit with this glow. Shubh Deepawali.

About the Author

Vipin Yadav

Was this article helpful?

Natural Holi Colours, With Love From Avacayam

https://youtu.be/GpSqTuoqPgU Holi is a cherished time at Kama Ayurveda, marked by our collaboration with the New Delhi-based NGO, Prabhat. Together, […]

Love Is Love – Kama Ayurveda Collaborates With Manish Arora

As we were nearing the much awaited day of love, the Valentine’s Day, we thought of the perfect gift to […]

Getting Wedding Ready – Simple Skincare Rituals For Grooms

The Greeks warriors used a mixture of olive oil and honey on their skin to look fair and young. The […]

Reminiscing The Goodness Of Ayurveda This Dhanteras

There’s an interesting story ascribed to the origin of Dhanteras. It’s about a 16-year-old son of King Hima whose horoscope […]

Gifts Pure Timeless Beauty – The Diwali Gifting Guide

Diwali gifts are just so special. They carry this wonderful warm feeling of togetherness and homecoming which instantly light up […]

Be The Harbinger Of Love And Light This Diwali

There is no other day that lights up the darkest corners of our heart and fills it with immense love […]

Rakhi Special: Skin Benefits Of Lavender, Patchouli And Tulsi

It is not enough to look healthy and beautiful – you also have to feel it. You cannot claim to […]

Rakhi Special: Brothers & Sisters, The Best Problem-Solvers!

We all depend on our siblings for emergency advice and last-minute rescuing. These might be our siblings by birth, or […]

Celebrate Journeys That Siblings Share With Kama Ayurveda

The bond between a brother and sister is not just defined by blood, but also by life experience and circumstance. […]

Gifting The Freedom Of Choice With Kama Ayurvedas Gift Cards

Just thinking about the auspicious day of Diwali stirs up a hundred special memories in our heart and we are […]

Living Like a Kapha – Kapha Lifestyle Recommendations

Know Your Dosha Type: Living like a Kapha Ayurveda believes our bodies are governed by three doshas or energies that […]

Living Like a Pitta – Pitta Lifestyle Recommendations

Know Your Dosha Type: Living Like a Pitta Ayurveda believes our bodies are governed by three doshas or energies that […]

Living Like a Vata – Vata Lifestyle Recommendations

Know Your Dosha Type: Living Like a Vata Aligning your lifestyle with your dosha is the key to balancing energy […]

10 Best Face Oils For Every Skin Type

Face oils are an essential step in any skincare regime, offering powerful benefits to treat, nourish, and firm the skin, […]

An Expert Guide To Using A Face Serum For Best Benefits

Cleanse, tone, moisturize, sunscreen – this might be your basic skincare routine. However, if you haven’t added a face serum […]

How To Choose The Best Night Cream For Dry Skin?

Dry skin is a cause of concern for millions of men and women around the world. If you have dry […]

Which Is The Best Night Cream For Oily Skin?

When it comes to skincare for those with oily skin, it is a common misconception that there is no need […]

How To Give Yourself A Face Massage – 10 Simple Steps

If you’ve ever treated yourself to a facial, you’re familiar with the remarkable natural glow that follows. What if we […]

Which Is The Best Anti-Aging Cream In India?

Experience comes with age. This is also true with the signs of aging on the skin. While there is nothing […]

Best Night Skin Care Routine – 5-Step Guide As Per The Experts

From your grandmothers to Ayurvedic practitioners, […]