Diwali 2022 | Diwali Puja Vidhi
24th October
Lakshmi Puja Muhurta - 18:52 to 20:13
Pradosh Kaal- 17:38 to 20:13
Vrishabha Kaal - 18:52 to 20:48
Amavasya Tithi Begins- 17:26 (24th October)
Amavasya Tithi Ends- 16:17 (25th October)
It is the Hindu autumn festival of lights, which is observed by Hindus all around the world. Diwali begins with Dhanteras and ends with Bhaiya Dooj, the exact date of which is set by the Hindu calendar; the major night of the Diwali celebration falls on Amavasya, the new moon night of the Kartika month. The triumph of light over darkness, the forces of good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance is symbolic meaning of Deepavali celebration.
Significance of Diwali
Diwali's spiritual significance is to awaken individuals to their own inner selves. In Hindu philosophy, there’s a genuine persona called the Atman that exists beyond the body and consciousness of a human being. It is real, limitless, and immortal. The Diwali festival commemorates the triumph of positive impulses over bad tendencies within man, and it is held to rid people of darkness or ignorance. While the Diwali legends differ, the basic goal of the Deepawali holiday is to awaken our Inner Soul.
How to Celebrate Diwali
People start cleaning, painting, and decorating their houses and offices a month before Diwali. It is thought that all living places should be invigorated in preparation for the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali night.
People are rushing to stores and shopping malls to take advantage of Diwali promotional bargains and offers. Kitchens are buzzing with activity as karanji, laddu, barfi, sankarpali, and nimkis, among other Diwali sweets and delicacies, are produced.
On Diwali evening, people dress up in their best attire and gather with their families around the house to burn diyas and candles. When it's time for Diwali puja, silver coins, panchamrit, and Diwali sweets are offered to Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity.
People give Diwali mithais to their neighbours, family, and friends after the puja. Children and teenagers take to the streets to light fireworks and enjoy the show of lights and sound. The whole country is in a celebration spirit on Diwali night, with individuals lighting up their homes with diyas to welcome Goddess. Crackers are lit during this event to ward off bad powers, according to common belief.
Diwali Puja Vidhi
Step 1 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Purify your home
Cleaning for Diwali is crucial. Clean each and every corner of your home. Sprinkle Gangajal (holy water from the river Ganga) to purify the area after cleansing.
Step 2 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Set up puja platform
Spread a red cotton cloth on a table/stool in your puja room/living room and place a handful of grains in the centre.
Step 3 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Place a kalash
In the centre of the grains, place the kalash (silver/bronze pot). Pour 75 percent of the water into the kalash and add one supari (betel nut), one marigold flower, a coin, and some rice grains. Arrange 5 mango leaves in a circular pattern on the kalash.
Step 4 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Place idol of Lakshmi and Ganesha for puja
Place the idol of Goddess Lakshmi in the centre of the kalash and the statue of Lord Ganesha on the right side (facing south-west). Make a little flat mountain of rice grains with a small thali, design a lotus flower with haldi, add some money, and lay it in front of the idol.
Step 5 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Place accounts books/wealth related items
Place your accounting or business book, as well as any other wealth or business-related things, in front of the idol.
Step 6 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Apply tilak and light diya
Light diyas and apply tilak to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh. Also apply tilak to kalash.
Step 7 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Offer flowers
Now it's time to offer flowers to Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi. For prayer, keep a flower in your palm.
Step 8 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Recite Puja Mantra
Close your eyes and say the Diwali puja mantra while holding a flower in your palm and joining your hands in prayer mode. After you've finished praying, give Ganesha and Lakshmi the flower you've held in your palm.
Step 9 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Offer water
Close your eyes and say the Diwali puja mantra while holding a flower in your palm and joining your hands in prayer mode. After you've finished praying, give Ganesha and Lakshmi the flower you've held in your palm.
Step 10 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Offer mala (garland)
Put kumkum, rice and haldi to the idol. Place the garland around Goddess’s neck. Burn agarbatti place it in front of the idol.
Step 11 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Offer fruits and sweets
Offer coconut, supari, and paan leaf to the deity. Fruit and sweets should be offered to the deity. In front of the idol, place some flowers and coins.
Step 12 of Diwali Puja Vidhi: Perform Lakshmi Aarti
Place a diya in thali, puja bell and then perform Lakshmi aarti.
Deepavali Celebration across India
Diwali is a Hindu festivity that is also observed by people of various religions such as Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Diwali is commemorated by Buddhists as the day Emperor Ashoka accepted Buddhism, Jains as the day Lord Mahavira reached nirvana, and Sikhs as the day their Sixth Guru Hargobind Ji was released from a prison. Diwali is observed in all parts of India, with minor variations, such as the adoration of Goddess Kali rather than Goddess Laxmi in West Bengal. During Diwali, Lord Krishna is revered and honoured in many places of India.