Chhoti Diwali Festival is celebrated on the 14th day of Krishna Paksh in the month of Karthik. In this festival special importance is given to cleanliness and beauty. This is also known as Narak Chaturdasi because the demon Narkasur was slain by Shri Krishna on this day.The day has a significance of bringing rays of joy and fading of all sorts of negativity.
The legend behind Chhoti Diwali:
Mythological stories says that there was a demon king Narakasur, who won a war with deities and imprisoned 16,000 daughters of various Gods. He even dared to snatch the ear rings of Goddess Aditi, who was considered to be mother to all Gods and Goddess. Angered with this cruel act of Narakasur, Satyabhama, Lord Krishna’s wife decided to kill him.She freed the imprisoned 16,000 daughters and Mother Goddess Aditi. Shri Krishna later married all those daughters who were captivated by Narakasur, and on this day of Chhoti Diwali returned home.Rituals:
There is a custom of taking early bath with rose petals in water and undertake oil massage to relax the body. Majorly, the day is utilized in shopping and preparation of sweets.Vidhi/Method of performing Chhoti Diwali Puja:
- In the evening, after taking bath, wear new clothes, have dinner and then perform the puja. Some people first perform puja and then have dinner.
- Perform the puja by sprinkling roli and chawal on the photos, the deepaks and the silver coins.
- Then flowers are offered.
- Light the agarbathi sticks and put them in a banana/agarbathi stand.
- Dhoop is shown since the dhoop daani gets hot soon it is advisable to keep a small plate under it.
- The eldest women of the house or a daughter of the house puts tikka for everyone performing the puja.
- After puja, everyone does pranam to elders and seek their blessings.
- Out of the 11/21 clay deepaks, seven deepaks and one choumukh deepak is left in the thali on the chowki. the remaining deepaks are kept outside the main gate of the house, puja room, kitchen, penda and other rooms of the house.
Chhoti Diwali, also known as Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi, is a part of the Diwali festival celebrated primarily in India. It usually falls a couple of days before the main Diwali festival. Here’s a bit about it:
-
Significance: Chhoti Diwali marks the beginning of the Diwali festivities. It is associated with the worship of Lord Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, and the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. The day is considered auspicious for buying new items, especially metal goods.
-
Traditions: People often clean and decorate their homes, light oil lamps, and make special sweets and snacks. It’s a time for buying new utensils, jewelry, or precious metals, as these are believed to bring prosperity.
-
Customs: On Chhoti Diwali, homes are illuminated with lamps and candles, and fireworks are often a part of the celebration. People also perform rituals to honor the gods and seek their blessings for health and wealth.
Celebrating Chhoti Diwali typically involves a range of activities and customs. Here’s a rundown of how people commonly observe this day:
-
Cleaning and Decorating: Homes are thoroughly cleaned and decorated with rangoli (colorful patterns made on the floor), lamps (diyas), and fairy lights. The aim is to welcome the goddess Lakshmi into the home.
-
Lighting Diyas: Families light oil lamps and candles in their homes and on their rooftops. This symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness.
-
Pooja (Worship): Special prayers and rituals are performed. Devotees worship Lord Dhanvantari, the god of health and medicine, and Goddess Lakshmi, seeking blessings for prosperity and well-being.
-
Buying New Items: It’s considered auspicious to buy new things on this day, especially metal items like utensils, jewelry, or precious stones. Many people take this opportunity to make important purchases.
-
Feasting: Special sweets and snacks are prepared and shared with family and friends. Popular treats include ladoos, barfis, and samosas.
-
Fireworks: In some regions, people celebrate with fireworks and crackers, though this is becoming less common due to environmental concerns.
-
Social Visits: People often visit friends and family to exchange greetings and gifts, spreading the festive cheer.
-
Charitable Acts: Some families also make it a point to donate to the less fortunate, as part of the celebrations.
इस आर्टिकल को हिन्दी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें