Things We Traditionally Do During Diwali!

Diwali the festival of lights and one of the most significant festival in Indian culture. There are many rituals and traditions associated with Diwali, many of them have high religious significance. These activities make this festival highly entertaining and jubilant to celebrate, houses are decorated with candles and colorful lights and huge firework displays are held with families feast and share gifts. 

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs to mark historical events story or myths but they all spiritually mark the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil, hope over despair.

Before getting ready, it would be better if we go through the major activities once so that it would give you the proper orientation to get started.

Pujas and Prayers :-

Pujas and prayers are the important part of Diwali celebrations. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, is most generous during Diwali that she blesses those who worship her on this day. Lakshmi puja in conducted in every household to please Goddess Lakshmi.

Decoration:-

The festival of Diwali is famous for its decorations. People decorate their home with colorful rangolies, flowers, and toran. The tradition of decorating home during Diwali is actually part of the belief that goddess Lakshmi visits every househole during Diwali and showers blessings on her devotees.

Getting Together: -

Getting together with family, relatives and friend give us the most wonderful moment of our life Diwali is an occasion to arrange such get-together known as “Milan”.

Lighting Diyas:-

Diwali festivals are not complete without lighting Diyas. It is believed that it was on this auspicious day that lord Rama Returned to his kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. People of Ayodhya wanted to celebrate this occasion and they decorated the city with lighted earthen lamps.

Bursting Phatakaas:-

This is the most entertaining activity of Diwali, but we should take Precaution while bursting Crackers.

Distributing Mathai and Gifts:-

Distributing sweets and gifts among loved ones makes Diwali a special experience usually we prepare traditional gifts and sweets in our home and exchanging gifts and sweets to our relatives and friends.

So we all are ready to celebrate the festival of lights and crackers.

Wish u all a very Happy Diwali

Maa Siddhidatri: The Ninth Goddess Of Navratri

Maa Siddhidatri is the ninth form of the Maa Durga, the meaning of her name is as follows: Siddhi means supernatural power or meditative ability, and Dhatri means giver. Maa Siddhidatri is worshiped on the ninth day of Navratri. In the beginning of the universe, Lord Rudra worshiped Adishakti for creation. It is believed that Adishakti had no form. The supreme Goddess of Power, Adishakti, appeared in the form of Maa Siddhidatri from the left half of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva got the title of Ardha-Narishwar when Maa Siddhidatri appeared from his left half. Maa Siddhidatri sits on Kamal and rides on the lion. She is four-armed. She holds a lotus, mace, Sudarshana Chakra and shankha. It is believed that planet Ketu is governed by her. In this form Durga removes ignorance and she provides the knowledge. She is surrounded by Siddhas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asura and Devata who are worshipping her. She is the mistress of all achievements and perfections.

Mantra -

ॐ देवी सिद्धिदात्र्यै नमः॥

Prarthana -

सिद्ध गन्धर्व यक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि।

सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥

Maa Mahagauri: The Eighth Goddess Of Navratri

Maa Mahagauri is the eighth manifestation of goddess Durga and amongst the Navadurgas. Maa Mahagauri is worshiped on the eighth day of Navratri. According to Hindu mythologies, Maa Shailputri at the age of sixteen was extremely beautiful and was blessed with fair complexion. Due to her extreme fair complexion, she was known as Maa Mahagauri. She rides a white bull. Maa Mahagauri has four arms. Her right arm is in Abhaya Mudra and right lower hand holds a Trishul in it. She holds a Damaru in her left upper arm and the lower one is in Varada Mudra. It is believed that the planet Rahu is governed by Maa Mahagauri. By heartily worshipping Maa Mahagauri, previous sin and influence of wrong deeds of worshippers get vanished. With her blessing, worshipper gets the divine perfection of Universe. She influences mankind toward the path of truth and purity. Illumination of her grace is infinite. She is the true Goddess of generosity and morality.

Mantra –

ॐ देवी महागौर्यै नमः॥

Prarthana –

श्वेते वृषेसमारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः।

महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेव प्रमोददा॥

Maa Kaalratri: The Seventh Goddess Of Navratri

Maa Kaalratri is the seventh form amongst the Navadurga. The seventh day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Kaalratri. When the Maa Parvati removed the outer golden skin to kill demons named Shumbha and Nishumbha, She was known as Maa Kaalratri. Maa Kaalratri is the fiercest and the most ferocious form of Maa Parvati. Maa Kaalratri complexion is dark black and She rides on a donkey. Her large red eyes, open red tongue violently demolish devils and monsters. She is depicted with four hands. Her right hands are in Abhaya and Varada Mudra and She carries a sword and the deadly iron hook in her left hands. It is believed that the planet Shani is governed by Maa Kaalratri. Maa Kaalratri blesses her devotees with Abhaya and Varada Mudras. Worshipping Maa Kaalratri on the seventh day gives the fruitful result. She protects her devotees from the evil influence of demons and wrong people.

Mantra –

ॐ देवी कालरात्र्यै नमः॥

Prarthana –

एकवेणी जपाकर्णपूरा नग्ना खरास्थिता।

लम्बोष्ठी कर्णिकाकर्णी तैलाभ्यक्त शरीरिणी॥

वामपादोल्लसल्लोह लताकण्टकभूषणा।

वर्धन मूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥

Temples-

Kalratri -Varanasi

Maa Katyayani: The Sixth Goddess Of Navratri

Maa Katyayani is the sixth form amongst Navadurga or the nine forms of Maa Parvati, worshiped during the Navratri celebrations. Maa Parvati took the form of Katayayani to destroy the demon Mahishasura. Maa Katyayani was the most violent form of Maa Parvati. In this form, Maa Parvati appears as a Warrior Goddess.

According to mythology Maa Parvati was born at the home of sage Katya and due to which this form of Maa Parvati is known as Katyayani. Maa Katyayani rides on the lion and depicted with four hands. Maa Katyayani carries lotus flower and sword in her left hands and keeps her right hands in Abhaya and Varada Mudras. It is believed that the Brihaspati is governed by Maa Katyayani.

Mantra –

ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः॥

Prarthana –

चन्द्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना।

कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद् देवी दानवघातिनी॥

Temples -

Shri Katyayani Baneshwar Temple, Aversa, Karnataka

Sri Katyayani Peeth Temple, Vrindavan

Sri Katyayani Temple, Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Chhatarpur Temple, Delhi

Sri Kartyayani Temple, Kerala

Sri Katyayani Shakthipeeth Arbuda Devi Temple, Rajasthan

Sri Kathyayini Amman Temple, Tamil Nadu

Maa Skandamata: The Fifth Goddess Of Navratri

Skandamata is the fifth form of Maa Durga. She is fifth among Navdurgas, that’s why she is worshiped on the fifth day of Navratri. Her name comes from the word, Skanda is another name for war god Kartikeya also called Lord Murugan in south India and Mata is the term for mother. Skandamata is four armed and rides on a lion. She carries a lotus, a water material, and a bell. She holds Lord Skanda in her lap, She holds him in her right arm. By worshiping her in the form of Skandamata, the devotee gets all his desires fulfilled. He starts tasting the Supreme joy even in this very mortal world. When the devotee worships her, Lord Skanda, her son in her lap, is automatically worshiped. Thus, the devotee happens to enjoy the grace of Maa Skandmata along with the grace of Lord Skanda. She is regularly known as "The Goddess of Fire".

Offering: Five bunches of grapes; offer candles morning-evening; accept and share the grapes in the evening with others. Mentally offer all fragrant flowers, fruits, gems.

Mantra:

सिंहासनगता नित्यं पद्माश्रितकरद्वया।

शुभदास्तु सदा देवी स्कन्दमाता यशस्विनी॥

Maa Kushmanda: The Fourth Goddess Of Navratri

Kushmanda is the fourth form of the Maa Durga. The fourth day is dedicated to her. Ku means "a little", Ushma means "warmth" or "energy" and Anda means "cosmic egg". Maa Parvati started living inside the center of the Sun so that He can liberate energy to the universe. Since then she is known as Maa Kushmanda.  Maa Kushmanda has the power and capability to live inside the Sun. The glow and radiance of her body is as luminous as that of the Sun.  Mata Kushmanda has eight hands, holding a bow, a jar of nectar, arrow, lotus, mace, discus, chakra and the eighth hand, she has a rosary for blessing her devotees.  She rides on a lion. It is believed that God Sun is governed by Maa  Kushmanda. She created the whole universe, which is called Brahmanda , by just flashing a little bit of her smile. She also likes Bali of white pumpkin known as Kushmanda.  Maa Kushmanda is reflected in every living and non-living entity of this universe. If someone worships her with complete devotion, he will get everything to be happy in this world.

Mantra -

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥

Prarthana -

सुरासम्पूर्ण कलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च।

दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥

Maa Chandraghanta: The Third Goddess Of Navratri

Maa Chandraghanta is the third form of Maa Durga. Her name Chandraghanta, means "one who has a half-moon shaped like a bell". Maa Chandraghanta is the married form the Maa Parvati. After getting married to Lord Shiva, Mahagauri started adorning her forehead with half Chandra and due to which she was known as Maa Chandraghanta. She is also known as Chandika or Rannchandi. Maa Chandraghanta mounts on the tigress. She is depicted with ten hands. Maa Chandraghanta carries lotus flower, Arrow, Dhanush and Jap Mala in her four right hands and keeps the fifth right hand in Abhaya Mudra. She carries Trishul, Gada, Sword and Kamandal in her four left hands and keeps the fifth left hand in Varada Mudra. It is believed that the planet Shukra is governed by Maa Chandraghanta. In this form Maa Chandraghanta is ready for the war with all her weapons. It is believed that the sound of the moon-bell on her forehead expel all type of spirits away from her devotees. This form of Maa Parvati is peaceful and for welfare of her devotees.

Mantra -

                                                                         

ॐ देवी चन्द्रघण्टायै नमः॥

Prarthana -

पिण्डज प्रवरारूढा चण्डकोपास्त्रकैर्युता। 

प्रसादं तनुते मह्यम् चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥