Divali Celebration 2024

Divali is called the festival of lights. It celebrates the triumph of Light over darkness. The Light represents wisdom, goodness, prosperity, and compassion. Darkness is the ignorance that brings forth all the challenges and suffering in life. 

On this day we honor the return of the Light into our lives, and cultivate higher consciousness of the Light within. 

In my community, we take the opportunity in celebrating Divali to explore Bhakti Yoga - devotion and the opening of the heart. This also synergizes with the deeper meaning of Divali which celebrates the Goddess Lakshmi as one of  the focal points.

Goddess Lakshmi is connected in Vedic Astrology to the planet Venus, which is resonant with the Heart Chakra. The power of Maha Lakshmi is the deeper soul qualities that express through your heart - kindness, gentleness, compassion, and prosperity. 

It is fitting then to practice Bhakti, as this is the yogic path of purifying the heart and opening up to its spiritual depth. Bhakti utilizes puja (ritual worship) and kirtan (chanting of mantras and singing the Divine names of the deity).

You will also see that we included Maha Kaali in the honouring. She represents the work that we must do for spiritual transformation and is often worshipped on the new moon. Divali which takes place the darkest new moon of the year also holds Kaali's vibrations.

Maha
​Lakshmi
​Puja

Puja is the ritual worship of the deity, in this case Maha Lakshmi for Divali, as well as Maha Kaali for the new moon. 

In ritual worship we are honouring the cosmic power that is a part of all and even resides within us. By giving attention to that power it is awakened and grows in our hearts. 

The process of puja can seem to be complicated but it is essentially making offerings of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) in different ways. 

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Havan or Homa
Offerings to the Sacred Fire

Part of the ritual worship is to make offerings to the sacred fire. In Vedic thought fire (Agni Deva as the deity) was given the role as messenger to the gods. So in making offerings to to the fire with mantras we can send our intentions to the cosmic forces. 

The fire is lit and honoured in a particular way, then different offerings are made. The primary offering is some kind of food - usually ghee (clarified butter), rice, sugar, sesame seeds, cloves and a blend of dried plants. 

With each offering to the fire a mantra is repeated. 

The experience can become quite meditative and there is a palpable shift in the vibrations of the room in doing this kind of ritual. 

Afterwards there is a deep silence that comes, and a strong inward focus as you feel connected. The outer ritual inspires the inward journey and inner spiritual process. ​

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Kirtan and Mantras

Through chanting of mantras and singing songs dedicated to the Divine forces we can purify our being. It also works intensely on the heart and throat chakras to open them up to more of your soul's power. 

When chanting you need to engage with the mantra and the use of the body in singing - this brings you into the flow and vibrations of the mantra. 

If you are able to become more observant and self-aware in the process you will see that the mantra has an effect on your body, heart and mind. And that it is leading you into a deeper connection within. 

Maha Lakshmi Mantra

Om shri maha lakshmiyai namah
I honour and bow to the great Lakshmi. 

Om siddhi buddhi prade devi
Bhukti mukti pradayini
Mantra murti sada devi
Maha lakshmi namostute

Oh goddess of perfection and intelligence, 
Bestower of enjoyment and liberation, 
whose ultimate form is mantra, 
to that great Lakshmi I bow. 

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Light Over Darkness

Finally as it comes to sunset on Divali day, we light many deeya (clay lamps) to Light up the darkness around the home. It is a symbolic action of welcoming the Light and opening up to greater wisdom, goodness and prosperity in life. 

The coming together of the community to celebrate this occasion and the opening of hearts through Bhakti is the ultimate goal of Divali. 

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Special thanks goes to...

Zara - event manger,
Narissa for all her help in the space,
The musicians for their support,
our local caterer, pujari, florist, 
Narik Road Photography
all those who contributed and to 
all the guests on Divali evening.