Diwali 2023: Date, Muhurta, Rituals and Significance

First things first, Diwali is not just a single festival. And more importantly, it is not just the festival of lights and firecrackers. In fact, it is a series of festivals, that, in some Indian cultures begins 5 days before the big Amavasya of Diwali and stretches through 15 days until Dev Diwali, kick-starting the wedding season.

This period observes the most pomp of all times in the country and includes a series of rituals and poojas. People do these poojas in their own unique ways.

Dhanteras (November 10, 2023) - The auspicious time for worship on Dhanteras, which falls on November 10, 2023, is from 05:27 PM to 07:27 PM during the Trayodashi Tithi.

Choti Diwali (November 11, 2023) - Choti Diwali, observed on November 11, 2023, during the Chaturdashi Tithi, is celebrated from 11:05 PM to 11:56 PM.

Diwali (November 12, 2023) - Diwali, occurring on November 12, 2023, has an auspicious worship time from 05:40 PM to 07:36 PM. Additionally, the Pradosh Kaal lasts from 05:29 PM to 08:07 PM, and the Simha Kaal is from 12:12 AM to 02:30 AM on the next day. Worshipping Mata Lakshmi and Shri Ganesha during this period is believed to bring happiness, prosperity, and wealth.

Govardhan Puja (November 14, 2023) - Govardhan Puja, observed on November 14, 2023, during the Pratipada Tithi, is celebrated from 05:54 AM to 08:09 AM.

Bhai Dooj (November 15, 2023) - Bhai Dooj, falling on November 15, 2023, during the Dwitiya Tithi, is observed from 12:38 PM to 02:53 PM.

- The first day of the five-day Diwali celebration is known as Dhanteras. It typically falls on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin. Which means it falls on two days before Diwali.

- On this day, people worship Lord Ganesha, Maa Laxmi, and Maa Saraswati for wealth, wisdom, and abundance. In many parts of the country, even Lord Dhanvatari is prayed for good health.

- It is considered an auspicious day to buy gold, silver, and other valuable items.

- This is also the best day to bring in yantras and other abundance-attracting elements. That being said, The Money Box could be the best gift for yourself, your family, and your loved ones.

- On Dhanteras, cleaning, decorating homes, lighting lamps and diyas, and creating rangoli designs are integral parts of the celebrations.

- Choti Diwali falls on the day before Diwali. It is a day of purification and the beginning of Diwali festivities. And along with that, the decorations and the lamp lighting become a ritual.

- The day after Diwali is considered a Hindu New Year in many parts of India. On this day, people take a bath, do their Sri Laxmi, Sri Ganesh, and Yantra Poojas and, after that, they do Chopda Poojan.

- Chopda Poojan is a ritual where people open new account books for their homes and businesses. During this ritual, business owners and traders perform a special worship of their account books, ledgers, and financial records.

- Business owners and traders clean and decorate their account books and ledgers, and on this day, they perform ceremonial worship, often in the presence of a priest or as a family ritual.

- The purpose of Chopda Pujan is to seek the blessings of the goddess of wealth, Goddess Lakshmi, for prosperity and success in the upcoming year.

- During the ritual, the account books are opened, and a small prayer or puja is conducted to invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. The business owners and traders often mark the pages of their account books

- Bhai Dooj, also known as Bhai Phota or Bhau-Beej, is a festival celebrated one day after Diwali. It is a festive day that marks the magic of the bond between brothers and sisters.

- On this day, the families of siblings meet, do their family rituals, and share a good meal together.

While these are some of the familiar customs, there are several lesser-known rituals associated with Diwali that hold special significance in various regions and cultures of the country. These unique traditions add depth and diversity to the celebration, offering a glimpse into the richness of Indian spiritual heritage.

- Bandi Chorr Diwas is a special Sikh festival that comes together with Diwali. This festival is largely celebrated in North India and Sikhs all over the country.

- The term Bandi Chorr Diwas translates to ‘Prisoner Release Day’. This day holds great importance for Sikhs as it commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, along with 52 other princes from imprisonment in Gwalior Fort by Emperor Jahangir in October 1619.

- On this day, Sikhs visit gurdwaras, participate in kirtan, listen to religious discourses, as well as engage in community service and charitable activities. It is a day of both religious and cultural significance for the Sikh community.

- Normally, during the time of Diwali, most part of the country is engrossed in celebrating the spirits of Maa Laxmi. But in East India, particularly in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam, people do pooja of Goddess Kali.

- This pooja is also known as Shyama Pooja and is the second most prominent festival after Durga Pooja.

- On the New Moon of Kartik Maas, this pooja is done to seek guidance for removing the evils and blessings of health, wealth, and serenity from the goddess.

- This pooja is performed in the night and the red hibiscus flower is the main element of it. After the pooja. A bhog of rice, lentils, and sweets is offered to Kaali Maa.

- On this day, Agambagish Puja is performed in West Bengal. Agambagish, who are highly respected priests of Maa Kali, meditate in places like mortuaries. They sit in circles with human skulls that they've collected and treated with their own blood. These rituals are mostly seen in rural areas of West Bengal, especially in districts like Howrah, Midnapore, and Hoogly.

- This is also one of the most popular Diwali rituals in and few parts of North India, especially Madhya Pradesh. It falls on the day after Diwali.

- The main significance of Govardhan Puja is associated with Shri Krishna. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hill on his little finger to protect the people of the village of Vrindavan from the torrential rains sent by Lord Indra, the god of rain. This event is a symbol of Lord Krishna's divine power and his role as the protector of his devotees.

- Villagers also adorn their calves with flowers. Then, they lay down on the ground and let the cows stomp on them. The entire village gathers to witness this spectacle, and it is believed that this practice will compel the Gods to answer their pleas. This ceremony occurs after a five-day fast.

- Patthar ka Mela is yet another strange ritual observed during Diwali in North India, particularly in Dhami or Himachal Pradesh. During this ritual, people hurl stones at each other. Contrary to the common defense mechanism, people don't get down or hide to save themselves. Instead, they stand face-on before those stones, wanting to get struck.

- And then, the oozing blood from the stone wound is used to apply tilak on Maa Kali’s forehead. Weird, isn't it?

- Actually, human sacrifices were once made to the Goddess Kali in Dhami, but a local queen put an end to this practice due to her displeasure. In its place, stone pelting became a substitute for human sacrifice and has continued as a tradition ever since.

- You’ll find this perplexing, but it is actually a fun ritual in the Bihar state of India, especially in the Bastar region.

- Here, the tribal communities celebrate ‘Diwali’ as “Diyari”. The festival begins with a ceremonial marriage of crops in fields with an idol of Lord Narayana. It is followed by the practice of stockpiling food grain.

- On the first day of the festival, livestock owners in the tribal village of Bastar are honored with alcohol. During the three-day Diwali festival, the cattle are decorated with flowers, drums are banged, and the crop is worshipped as an image of Goddess Lakshmi.

- Just like the Tribals in Bastar, The Sindhi community also celebrates Diwali as “Diyari”. But their rituals are completely different.

- They worship Goddess Lakshmi. During their Pooja, they use raw milk to cleanse silver and gold coins. After the puja, they grab the coins and softly tap them on their teeth while singing “Lakshmi aayi, danat vaai” which loosely means: When Lakshmi arrives, poverty departs.

- Ancestors are greatly revered in India. In fact, there’s a period of 15 days after Ganesh Chaturthi and before Navratri, specially dedicated to the forefathers. However, different cultures like to commemorate and celebrate their ancestral lineage differently. And Kauriya Kathi in Odissa is just like that. The people of Odissa observe Kauriya Kathi to honor their ancestors.

- During this ceremony, the jute stems are put on fire as a signal to summon their forefathers. The purpose of this ritual is to seek blessings from their ancestors, believed to be living in heaven after their earthly bodies have passed away.

- Narkasur Chaturdashi is also known as Choti Diwali or Roop Chaudas. It falls a day before Diwali and in some places, even extended to the day of Diwali.

- It is believed that on this day, Lord Krishna, along with his wife, Devi Satyabhama, slayed the demon Narkasura, a powerful demon who wreaked havoc on the world. This victory is celebrated on Narkasur Chaturdashi, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

- On this day, people wake up early in the morning, take a holy bath, and apply oil on their bodies before sunrise. It is believed that taking a bath with scented oils removes impurities from the body.

- Devotees also light lamps to symbolize the victory of light over darkness. In some regions, effigies of Narakasura are made and then destroyed in a symbolic act of his defeat.

- Krishna Chaturdashi and Bali Padyami is an extension of Diwali, where the former festive day falls before Diwali and the latter, after Diwali.

- Krishna Chaturdashi is just another name for Narka Chaturdashi in South India, predominantly in Karnataka.

- So the importance and the back story of the festive day remain the same. But it is the way that is celebrated may differ from place to place. In places like Kerela and Karnataka, it is a norm on this day for people to cover themselves in fragrant oils. They wake up early, do their Krishna Pooja, and even offer coconut oil to Hanumanji.

- They also offer the prasad of sesame seeds, jaggery, and poha with ghee and sugar.

- In the evening, they chant the names of Subhadra, the wife of Krishna.

- Balipadyami is celebrated after Diwali. It's also known as Bali Pratipada or Padva. The day is celebrated for the victory of Lord Vishnu over the demon-king Bali in the Vamana Avatar. It also celebrates the demon king's return to Earth.

- The story goes back to Vishnu’s Vamana Avatar. In this lifetime, the Lord crushed Bali, a monster into the underworld. Upon this, Bali's grandfather, Prahlada, pleaded with Vishnu to pardon Bali.

- Lord Vishnu was pleased with Bali's dedication and integrity, so he granted him a boon. The boon was that Bali could return to earth for one day in a year to be with his people, be worshipped, and be a future Indra.

- To personify this event, Balipadyami is prominent and observed on the first day of the bright lunar fortnight in the Hindu month of Kartika.

Diwali, much like India itself, is a festival of rich diversity and traditions. While the well-known rituals of worship, feasting, and family gatherings are at the heart of the celebration, it's these hidden gems of customs that make the festival all the more enchanting.

They are a testament to the country's cultural vibrancy and the enduring customs that connect generations.

Most Diwali rituals revolve around attracting abundance in life and for family. Amid all this, there is one special kit of special elements that could help you achieve financial success and overcome your money problems.

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As we delve deeper into the richness of Diwali's diverse rituals, it's evident that this festival is not just a celebration but a thick fabric of cultural, spiritual, and historical significance.

These unique traditions reveal the profound depths of India's heritage, connecting us with our roots and offering us a glimpse into the vibrant mosaic of this extraordinary land.

As you embark on your Diwali journey and celebrate these exceptional customs, don't miss the opportunity to welcome joy, happiness, and abundance into your life.

May you celebrate every moment of Diwali and its festivities and let the spirit of Diwali fill your life with light and happiness.