Diwali Inc.

We will be soon moving into a frenzy of celebrations, the biggest, the largest of all, largest on the whole of the earth so to say — Diwali. Diwali is to welcome Shri Ram back to Ayodhya, at least that’s what we are told. Today I see no such thing.

Diwali is broadly speaking a 5-day festival that has been reduced to one DAY celebration, for all possible nefarious reasons. The e-commerce market is flooded with offers, to the level of cloud burst. Whichever e-commerce webpage you visit, all you will find is how to make the most of your Laxmi. Plain and simple give them your Laxmi and in return buy goods, make them rich, and get yourself poor.

I know! I know! That sounds cynically sinister, but hear me out, let’s revisit the purpose of Diwali.

     These are the days of Diwali -Vasu Baras, Dhanteras, Narak-Chatrudashi, Laxmi Pujan Padva/Gowardhan Puja and Bhai-dooj. Depending on which part of India you live, 5 days of  those mentioned will be celebrated. For some, it may start with Dhan teras and end with bhai dooj for some it may start with Vasu Baras Let me list these as tithis

1. Dwadashi

2. Trayodashi

3. Chaturdashi

4. Amavasya

5. Prathama

6. Dwitiya

These tithis are celebrated, and each has its own mythological story too. Whichever part of India you go to, you will find a new flavor to these tithis and why they celebrate it the way do it. But in the last 40-50 years this has been changing. Diwali has been divided into special days and non-special days like Dwadashi/Baras has lesser importance than Bhai dooj or Dhanteras. Long have we forgotten that all the days were the same, to be celebrated with same fervor same zest.

Vasu Baaras – the day we celebrate our cattle, sheeps, who provide the much-required nourishment. As we now do not own any cattle this day is skipped.

Dhanotrayodashi- No celebration is as corrupted as this one. The “Dhan” in Dhanteras comes from Dhanwantari. Right! the god of medicine. Here the hidden message is “Health is wealth”

 But go to market and you will see health missing from the corporate Diwali. You will be lured to buy in gold, vehicles flats, and whatnot, but no stress on health.

Narak-Chaturdashi- is the day when Sri Krishna killed the Narakasur. I won’t get into the mythological story, but this is the day one kills the narakasur within. Every family has its own tradition, do’s, and don’ts for this day.

Amavsya- also known as Laxmipujan. Just another Diwali day, but now has become the focal point of Diwali celebrations.

Prathama/Padwa – New beginnings day, many traders across India start using a new ledger this day.

Bhai Dooj – The day Yama visits his sister Yamuna. A day to visit your sister and get rid of your sins.

      But since Diwali is Incorporated, the week-long festivities are not more affordable. No campaign and riches can sustain the thrill for the whole week. Some say hate and love are the same, what you hate earnestly , you become like that. Keeping hatred in our heart for all that is western, we are turning our festivals Western. Like Christmas is celebrated for one day, Eid is a one-day event so have we reduced Diwali to mere one-day Laxmi pujan.

This is erroneous at so many levels. For instance, Dhanteras, has become a day to buy expensive articles, rather than the harvest festival it is. On this day the season’s first harvest is worshipped, which feeds us and keeps us healthy. That health is wealth.

       Take another example the Laxmi Pujan. Again we all waste so much of Laxmi to welcome Laxmi. This goddess is again largely misunderstood. She does represent wealth, but what is wealth, must be understood. It might be wise if readers explore another goddess Alakshmi. That will help them understand what Laxmi is. Since Vedic times, Amavasya is not considered a good day to buy, begin or do any shubh karma. Like always there is a caveat, an exception. Since Amavasya is the day where Sun and moon both are weak, one is recommended to strengthen them, and get into a spiritual mode. That’s the only thing that is well-supported by Amavasya. Spiritual pursuits and practices fit well to this day. Material wants, greed though may be answered but are not sustained.

But the corporate world has already made us suckers for shopping and we spend all our Laxmi, and in return invite Alakshmi into our home. (and no Alakshmi is not Nirruti). Our culture thrives on detaching from materialism, so how can it keep materialism at the center of this celebration? To understand Laxmi Pujan one will have to understand the difference between Laxmi and money/wealth.

The week of Diwali falls in a period in which the moon moves towards Darkness, day by day it sheds off its power. Sun is already in Dakshinayan motion. For gains or material success support from both Sun and moon is a must. Since there is absence of both, these tithis are for spiritual upliftment. It is for strengthening your soul not for spewing money around in name of enjoyment. The corporate Diwali is more on Alakshmi’s turf. Not only is it diluting the underlying philosophy, but also radically changes the character of Diwali. Diwali is a product of deep philosophical thoughts entwined with the Time, environment, and personal growth. There is no random coincidence about it. The goal here is to become –> from Nar pashu – to Nar and end being Narayan.

          One can go shopping whenever one wants, but do not make Diwali a Christmas/Eid replacement i.e do not make it One Day Event. I am not saying stop the celebrations or stop being commercial. Rather I am requesting to understand the reason behind Diwali and get the most out of it.

   Note: Nar Pashu here means animal being, it does not hint at “Male”