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Deccan Herald » Festivals>>Diwali
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October
21:
Lakshmi Pooja
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Lakshmi puja-Amavasya
The third day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day of LAKSHMI-PUJA which is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. This day is also known by the name of "CHOPADA-PUJA".
The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of Amavasya, which falls on
October 22 this year. Man's self enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the palaces of the wealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor. It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and showers her blessings on man. When the sun sets in the evening and ceremonial worship is finished all the home-made sweets are offered to the goddess as "NAIVEDYA" and distributed as "PRASAD".
One of the most curious customs which characterises this festival of Diwali is the indulgence of gambling, specially on a large scale in North India. It is believed that goddess Parvati played dice with her husband, Lord Shiv on this day and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuring year.
It was also on this auspicious day that Lord Krishna who preached Karmayoga through his Geeta to Arjun on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, discarded his body.
Bhagwan, Mahavir, the Jain prophet also attained "Nirvan" on this day.
Another interesting story about this Diwali day is from Kathopanishad of a small boy called Nachiketa who was to die as a teenager, who believed that Yama, the god of Death was as black as the dark night of amavasya. But when he met Yama in person he was puzzled seeing Yama's calm countenance and dignified stature. Yama explained to Nichiketa on this Diwali day of amavasya that by only passing through the darkness of death, man sees the light of highest wisdom. Nachiketa realised the importance of worldly life and significance of death. Nachiketa's doubts were set at rest and he whole-heartedly participated in Diwali celebrations.
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