Diwali is one of the most important festivals all over India. The history of Diwali goes a long way back and can be traced back to the time when Lord Rama came back home after exile. However, there are many different reasons to celebrate the festival of lights. Also, know why we worship Laxmi on Diwali.
And that brings us to the question of “why Diwali is called the festival of lights and what is the significance of Diwali.” It is because when Lord Rama came back home, to Ayodhya, the people of the city were extremely happy. To show their happiness, the people lit diyas all over the city. And since then, it became the custom to light diyas on Diwali.
However, that is not all why Indians celebrate Diwali. There are many different stories for the celebration of Diwali. In this blog, we will discuss some of the topics, which will help you understand the significance of the festival, along with how to celebrate the festival.
When does Laxmi Puja Fall?
Laxmi puja takes place during Diwali celebrations. We worship Laxmi Puja to please Goddess Laxmi to give us blessings. In Hinduism, Laxmi puja falls at the end of the Vedic calendar, which signifies the end of the year with a celebration and a feeling of festivities.
During this time of the year, which is Diwali, you can expect to see families coming together for celebrations, gifting and greeting.
Why We Worship Laxmi Puja on Diwali?
Although most people find why we worship Laxmi Puja on Diwali in a Diwali story, the reason is evident in the name of the Goddess. Laxmi puja is all about worshipping the goddess for wealth and prosperity.
If you look at it, Diwali is about ending the year on a good note. Additionally, Diwali is all about celebrating time with your family and praying for the prosperity of your home, businesses and work.
The word Laxmi means wealth in Hindi, and worshipping the Goddess means that you’re welcoming wealth and prosperity. As per Hinduism, worshipping the Goddess during Diwali, the festival of lights, is welcoming wealth and richness. Goddess Laxmi is the personification of wealth and prosperity. And if you worship the goddess, you will get her blessings in the form of prosperity and mental peace.
Also, during the festival of lights, we worship Goddess Laxmi as a way to invite wealth into our homes. During the puja, one of the other key things is to have the goddess bless all sources of income for the household.
On the day of Laxmi puja, the Goddess is bathed before worshipping. Additionally, to mark the day, people use diyas, lights and strings of lights to celebrate the pooja.
What are the Different Reasons We Celebrate Diwali?
Although the most common Diwali story is related to Ramayana, there are other reasons too. Another reason to celebrate Diwali is that it is the last day of the Vedic calendar. We also celebrate Diwali because of the appearance of the reincarnation of Lord Krishna (Lord Parasur Rama).
Another reason to celebrate the festival is the significance of Diwali festival for others like Jains and Sikhs because of the story of Lord Indra. Lord Indra was cursed by his teacher. Lord Indra’s teacher, Durvasa Muni, cursed him because the lord had disrespected him. And because of the curse, the material world was sunk under waters, including Goddess Laxmi.
To come out of this, Lord Indra came up with an idea and churn the ocean of milk, which helped Devi Laxmi resurface from the water. This is one of the oldest stories about the significance of the festival. Several jewels came out of the ocean, which also brought out the Goddess.
What Kind of Food is Prepared for Diwali?
As mentioned earlier, Diwali is a time to enjoy time with family and invite prosperity into our homes. To celebrate this day, people prepare special sweets and savouries. Additionally, many gifts are prepared for others during this time.
Besides preparing savoury dishes and sweets, most people buy gifts for home and family members. Along with this, people buy fireworks to celebrate the day.
Additionally, sweets and savouries are offered to Goddess Laxmi, as well as Lord Ganesha, during the puja.
Conclusion
The festival of lights is not just a celebration for adults but is also an amazing celebration for kids. Diwali for kids is a special moment, as children enjoy the festival with their friends and family. One of the key moments in the Diwali celebration is worshipping Goddess Laxmi. Goddess Laxmi has a deep and interwoven relationship with Diwali celebrations. On the day of Diwali, Goddess Laxmi is worshipped to bring wealth and prosperity to the household.
Apart from worshipping the goddess of wealth, there are many other parts of Diwali celebrations. People spend time with their families, buy gifts for each other and buy gold on Diwali.
