By Sanjay Parekh
NHSF Learning Team
*DIWALI: The Festival of
Lights*
The Diwali period includes a series of 8 joyful festivals. These festivals are:
- Ramaa Ekadashi - 14th October 2009 (11th Aashwin in the Hindu calendar)
- Vagh Baaras - 15th October 2009 (12th Aashwin)
- Dhan Teras - 15th October 2009 (13th Aashwin)
- Kali Chaudash - 16th October 2009 (14th Aashwin)
- Diwali - 17th October 2009 (15th Aashwin)
- New Year/ Nutan Varsh - 18th October 2009 (1st Kartik)
- Bhai-Dhuj - 20th October 2009 (2nd Kartik)
- Labh Pancham - 23rd October 2009 (5th Kartik)
New Year / Nutan
Varsh 2009
18th
October 2009 (1st Kartik in the Hindu calendar) 
The Hindu New Year (Nutan Varsh), fall on the first day of
Kartik (the first month in the Hindu calendar).
Origins
As well as signifying the start of the New Year, there are
two origins why we celebrate New Year. - On Kartik 1, Lord Vaman asked King Bali for
three strides of land (Devpodhi Ekadashi). King Bali pleased the Lord by
offering all his land. In gratitude for his devotion, Vamanji gave Bali a boon
that named this auspicious day after him. So, Kartik 1 is also known as
Balipratipadaa and people offer Bali pujan on this day.
- The second origin is the beginning of Annakut.
The monsoon, which commenced in
the month Ashadha, helped the growing of new crops by the end of month Aashwin.
Therefore, the harvest brought home is first used to cook exquisite food for
the Lord.
In Gokul, where Lord Krishna grew
up, it was commonplace to offer these foods as prashad as thanks to Lord Indra, who graces rain, helping crops to
grow.
On hearing this, Sri Krishna
pointed out that the cause of man's
happiness and misery are his karmas. And the supreme God bestows the fruits of
these karmas. He added:
Since we
are forest dwellers, pujan of this Mount Govardhan, the cows and Brahmins, is
greater than Indra's puja.
He then commanded everyone:
From now
onwards, fodder shall be offered to cows and food to Govardhan
(Shrimad Bhagvatam 10/25).
Everyone accepted his 'agna'. When Indra discovered that his puja had
been stopped, and instead, pujan offered to Govardhan in Gokul, he unleashed
his wrath by deluging Gokul with rain to destroy it. However to demonstrate the
Lord's power, Shri Krishna raised Mount Govardhan merely with his little
finger, thus sheltering the residents and cattle of Gokul underneath.
This shows us that factors such as houses, wealth, mountains, trees or the
earth do not have the power to protect us. Only the Lord Purushottam has the
power to deliver us. Therefore it is best to accept 'sharnagati' (refuge) of
the Lord Supreme and offer Him pujan.
Over the ages, these sentiments have been consolidated by offering
Govardhan puja. This is also known as Annakut,
Anna meaning food and Kut, mountain.
Celebrations
Celebrations are very festive as New Years day follows
Diwali. People go to mandirs for darshan
of God and greet each other on this day by uttering, Saal-mubaarak or Nutan
Varsh-abhinandan.
In mandirs, 'Annakut'
is offered to the deities on this day. A vast array of vegetarian foods is
traditionally arranged in tiers or steps, in front of the Lord. The sweets are
placed nearest to the Lord. As the tiers descend, other foods such as 'dal',
vegetables, pulses and fried savoury foods are arranged. A mound of cooked
rice, symbolic of Mount Govardhan, is placed in the center. This is followed by
a grand arti. The Annakut is left for darshan until evening, and then the items
are distributed as prashad.
In the whole of the Hindu
Dharma and perhaps the world, the grandest offering and display of vegetarian
cuisine happens every year during the Annakut at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir,
in Neasden London. Stretching 85 feet in length, with several tiers of food,
there are over 1250 different vegetarian food dishes offered in a spectacularly
devotional and aesthetic manner. This is a breathtaking feast for all to
observe.
Bhai-Dhuj 2009
20th October 2009 (2nd Kartik in the Hindu calendar)
Bhai-Dhuj (Hindi) (also Bhaubeej (Marathi), Bhai Beej (Gujarati), Bhai Phota (Bengali)) is a ceremony celebrated by Hindus
the second day after Diwali (the second day of the New Year). The name Dhuj
(or Beej) means the second day after the new moon (the day of the
festival) and Bhai means brother. Phota means round dot.
Origin
Once, Yamunaji (manifest form of Yamuna River) invited her brother, Yama
Raja (God of Death) to have dinner at her home. However, work prevented him
from accepting her invitation. Finally on Kartik 2, he was able to visit her.
She welcomed him warmly by performing his pujan with sandalwood paste, exotic
perfumes and rich garments. She then served him luxurious food in a golden
dish.
After the meal, Yama Raja reciprocated his sibling love by gifting her
expensive garments. He then requested her to ask him for a boon. She asked, Every year on this day you should have a
meal in my home. You should also release all those who are in Yampuri (Hell).
And to those who have food at their sister's on this day, you should grant
happiness.
Granting her boon, Yama Raja replied, 'Those who bathe in the Yamuna, appease the 'pitrus' (ancestors), have
food at their sisters' and perform their pujan will not arrive at my gates.'
Bhai-Dhuj is therefore also known as Yama Dwiteeya.
Rituals
Sisters celebrate their love for their brothers by placing
an auspicious tilak (made from vermilion or sandalwood paste) on their
brothers' foreheads. Sisters also bless their younger brothers. They perform an
aarti to their brothers to honour them for taking care of them and protecting
them, and pray for their well-being. Brothers, in return, lavish sisters with
gifts and blessings (to younger sisters), along with pledges of protection and
support.
By serving food to her brother, a sister strengthens the sibling bond.
The sentiments are similar to 'Raksha Bandhan', when a sister visits her
brother to tie a 'Raksha' (rakhi). She also blesses him with health and
longevity. As for her, the scriptures ordain that she shall not become a widow.
Those who do not eat at their sister's home on this
day lose all the 'punya' accumulated during the past year and experience
misery. If one does not have a sister, they may have a meal at a cousin's or friend's
sister house. 
Labh Pancham 2009
23th
October 2009 (5th Kartik in the Hindu calendar)
Labh Pancham is the final festival of the Diwali
period. It is also known as Laakheni Panchmi and Saubhaagya Panchmi.
Importance
Labh means
benefit. People today usually wish for material labh such as: a good job,
good in-laws, riches and so forth. Yet the scriptures and sadhus inform us that
the greatest labh is human birth itself and one should endeavour for
God-realization. The scriptures define labh as:
||Laabhasteshaam jayasteshaam kutasteshaam
paraajayaha,
Yeshaam
indeevarashyaam hrudayastho janaardanaha.||
He is the true beneficiary and
the truly victorious, who has installed the consort of Lakshmi, God, in his
heart.
Ritual
Labh Pancham is a very auspicious day to begin new accounts, ledgers and transactions. Those that have not performed Sharda Pujan on Diwali, perform pujan of their new ledgers today. If people plan to open shops or business, this is a very auspicious day to commence such new ventures. In the days following Diwali including today, people visit friends and relatives, to renew solidarity. Sweets and other items are offered to guests, symbolically 'sweetening' relations.
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