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Diwali - The Festival of Lights
The festival of Diwali derives its name from the Sanskrit word "Deepavali" meaning "a row
(avali) of lights (dipas)", as it is a festival that celebrates the victory of good (light) over
evil (darkness). It marks the day when Lord Rama returned to His kingdom "Ayodhya" after His
epic war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. The whole of Ayodhya was lit with rows of lamps,
glittering on the dark night to welcome home the Divine King and His Queen Sita after 14 years
in exile.
Goddess Laxmi is also said to have emerged from the ocean of milk at Diwali.
On that day, Laxmi puja was performed to honour Her and as such, every year at Diwali,
She is worshipped and offered prayers, for it is She who brought wealth and prosperity for
the mankind.
Diwali also represents the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraksura.
Although Narakasura was the son of Mother Earth, he was a very powerful demon and
terrorized the three worlds. He assaulted even women including Aditi, the mother of the demigods. Lord Krishna beheaded him and relieved the earth from this demon.
Diwali is one of the most celebrated festivities in the Indian culture.
Uniting all members of the community, young and old, rich or poor, the
lighting of the lamps represents a way of paying obeisance to God for attainment
of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and valoured fame People give expressions to their
happiness by lighting earthen diyas and decorating the houses to welcome Lakshmi- the
Goddess of wealth and prosperity, bursting fire crackers and inviting the near and dear
ones to their households for partaking in the luxurious feast.
The lighting of lamps
is a way of paying obeisance to God for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and
fame and it also signifies goodness. It is also marked as the beginning of the Hindu New
Year and as a brand new beginning for all.
Please visit Hare Krishna temple. Our regular feast program is on every Sunday starting
at 5.0 pm. For further details, please ring the temple on 62626208 or 0404486746.
Hare Krishna!!
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Govardhana Puja
Govardhana Puja is the celebration of Krishna's pastime of lifting Govardhana Hill.
As Srila Prabhupada relates in the Krishna book (chapters 24 and 25), Krishna dissuaded
his father, Nanda Maharaja, from performing ritualistic sacrifice to the demigod Indra,
and encouraged the residents of Vrindavana to worship Govardhana Hill.
All the cowherd men of Vrindavana had arranged to worship King Indra.
Because Vrindavana is a village of vaisyas (farmers and dairymen), and
especially dependent on the rain to grow crops and feed the cows, the
cowherd men felt obliged to offer Lord Indra some worship in order to
ensure regular supply of rain.
However, Krishna persuaded His Father, Nanda Maharaja, to abandon the worship of Lord
Indra and to use the preparations he had already made to worship the cows, the brahmanas
(priests) and Govardhana Hill. He instructed His father to prepare delicious foodstuffs
from the grains and ghee collected for Lord Indra's yajna. Krishna ordered that this
feast be offered to Govardhana Hill with Vedic mantras chanted by qualified brahmanas.
He instructed that the cows be decorated and fed to their satisfaction. Then keeping
the cows before them, the inhabitants of Vrindavana were to circumambulate Govardhana Hill.
When all these activities had been carefully performed, Krishna expanded
Himself into a gigantic, transcendental form and declared to the inhabitants
of Vrindavan that He was Himself Govardhana Hill, and accepted all the offerings
made during the ceremony.
Being proud of his position as King of the Demigods, Lord Indra took great offense
at his sacrifice being cancelled, and attempted to chastise Krishna and the inhabitants
of Vrindavan by calling the samvartaka clouds (used to inundate the world at the end of
each cycle of yugas) and instructing them to totally destroy the residents, the cows and
the village of Vrindavana.
Lord Krishna offered protection to the cowherd men and women by lifting Govardhana Hill
so they could shelter underneath from Indra's wrath. Krishna exhibited His supreme mystic
power by holding the mountain aloft for seven days with the little finger of his left hand.
Devotees celebrate this remarkable pastime by observing the festival called Govardhana Puja.
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