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Jaya Jagannath,
Auspicious splendor of
lights and crackers, Tomorrow the 17th of October is flashing on
calendars as Dipabali, the festival of self-luminous enlightenment
of soul to overcome the darkness of ignorance and stepping into a
cleaner and brighter world. Sri Jagannath Temple welcomes you to
celebrate this auspicious day. Let us spend this weekend serving the
supreme lord Jagannath by lighting clay lamps at the temple,
Cleaning the temple premises and surroundings, decorating the temple
with running lights, twinkling bulbs, color papers and flowers.
Mythology behind Dipabali
:
• After vanquishing the demon Ravana, Lord Rama returned to his
kingdom in Ayodhya at the end of his 14 years of exile. The victory
of Lord Rama over Ravana signified the triumph of good over evil and
people welcomed him back home by lighting rows of clay lamps and
since then Diwali is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over
evil.
• Diwali is also celebrated to mark the triumph of Krishna, the
eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu over the demon Narkasu
• According to the epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas returned to their
kingdom after their exile of 12 years, Their subjects celebrated the
return of the Pandav brothers by lighting earthen lamps.
• On this day, one of the greatest Hindu kings, Vikramaditya was
coroneted, thus marking Diwali as a historical event too.
Bada Badua Daka ( Remembering forefathers )
:
On this auspicious day just after dusk all members of family pray
their ancestors in traditional fashion. Over a rangoli sailboat
design on the ground, on seven chamber several items are kept -
cotton, mustard, salt, asparagus root, turmeric and a wild creeper
and over the central chamber are the offerings meant for prasad.
Perched over the prasad is a jute stem with a cloth wick tied around
the edge. It is lit at the top end to mark the beginning of the puja.
All members of the family hold a bundle of jute stems in their
hands. Lighting their respective bundles from the flame on the
rangoli, they raise them skywards sky chanting:
"Bada badua ho, andhaara re aasa, alua re
jaa. Baaisi pahaacha re gada gadau tha."
"O forefathers, come to us in this dark evening, we light your way
to heaven. May you attain salvation on the 22 steps of Jagannath
Dham"
Another alternate
tradition followed in some parts of Orissa, especially the Southern
part,(Brahmin families), where they use sugarcane sticks, in place
of jute sticks, (about 1.5' long and wrapped with ghee-dipped cotton
wicks). This too is shown to the skies with the same mantra: meaning
the same,i.e.Oh: forefathers! those who had visited us during dark
Mahalaya Shaddha day, pl go back along this lighted path & pl always
be keeping a benevolent eye on all of us, your successors!!
How spectacular is our culture, how rich and splendid but still how
natural and delicate. Team Nilachakra wish at the lotus feet of lord
Sri Jagannath to let this warmth and splendor of lights illuminate
everyones life with joy, bright sparkles of peace, mirth and
goodwill. Jaya Jagannath.
Regards
Team Nilachakra
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