Celebrate Diwali 2024: Complete Guide to Pooja Timings, Traditions, and Spiritual Significance
Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of India’s most cherished celebrations, marking the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. It is celebrated with grandeur and joy across the country, with rituals that span several days. Diwali 2024 falls on October 31 and November 1st, with the festival extending over six days of celebration, beginning with Govatsa Dwadashi and concluding with Bhai Dooj. Let’s dive into the detailed rituals, significance, and pooja timings for Diwali 2024.
Diwali Rituals
On Diwali evening, devotees perform the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha by offering traditional items such as kheel, sweets, and batashe. It is widely believed that on this auspicious night, Goddess Lakshmi visits the homes of her devotees, bestowing blessings of wealth and prosperity.
To ensure you receive the divine grace of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, embrace the opportunity to perform virtual Lakshmi Puja and Ganesha Puja this Diwali, making it hassle-free yet spiritually fulfilling. Offering prayers after sunset is considered particularly auspicious.
As part of the preparation, devotees thoroughly clean and redecorate their homes as a gesture of welcoming the divine. Additionally, on this day, Lord Kuber, the god of wealth, is worshipped to invite stable income and financial well-being.
The Spiritual Significance of Diwali
Diwali is not just a celebration of wealth and lights; it holds a deeper spiritual meaning. It encourages self-reflection, overcoming inner darkness, and striving for wisdom and virtue. The lighting of diyas represents the removal of negativity and the embrace of positive energies.
Lakshmi Pooja, in particular, symbolises the call for spiritual and material prosperity. Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings are sought not only for financial gains but also for peace, contentment, and joy in family and personal life.
Astrological Remedies for Diwali
Here are five astrological remedies to please Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali and invite prosperity and abundance into your life:
- Light a Ghee Lamp in the Northeast Corner
On the night of Diwali, place a lamp filled with pure ghee in the northeast corner of your home. This is considered the direction of prosperity, and the lamp here symbolises the illumination of wealth and fortune. Let the lamp burn throughout the night to invite the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi.
- Chant the Lakshmi Mantra
Chanting the Shri Lakshmi Mantra during Diwali is highly auspicious. Reciting “Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah” 108 times can help attract positive energy and financial growth. Performing the mantra in front of a Lakshmi idol during Lakshmi Puja enhances the effectiveness of the prayer.
- Offer Lotus Flowers to Goddess Lakshmi
The lotus flower is sacred to Goddess Lakshmi and is a symbol of purity and abundance. During Lakshmi Puja, offer lotus flowers (or pictures of them if fresh ones aren’t available) to her. This gesture is believed to invoke her blessings and increase prosperity in the household.
- Keep 7 Gomti Chakras in Your Wallet
Carrying Gomti Chakras in your wallet or placing them in your cash box is an ancient astrological remedy for financial stability. On Diwali, worship these sacred objects by washing them in turmeric water and placing them in front of Goddess Lakshmi during the puja. This is believed to ensure the continuous flow of wealth.
- Donate Food and Clothes to the Needy
An important astrological remedy for gaining Lakshmi’s blessings is performing acts of charity on Diwali. Donating food, clothes, or money to the needy helps balance your karma and attracts the favour of Goddess Lakshmi, who is known to bless those who share their wealth generously.
The Six Days Festival
Day 1: Govatsa Dwadashi (October 28, 2024)
Significance:
Govatsa Dwadashi is dedicated to the worship of cows, which are considered sacred in Hinduism. This day symbolises gratitude towards cows, which are regarded as symbols of prosperity and nurturance. In Maharashtra, this day is also known as Vasu Baras.
Rituals:
- Women fast and offer prayers to cows, decorating them with garlands.
- Special food offerings (bhog) are prepared, and in some places, the cows are worshipped along with their calves.
Day 2: Dhanteras (October 29, 2024)
Significance:
Also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi, this day marks the beginning of Diwali festivities. The day is dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda and health, and Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
Rituals:
- People clean their homes and decorate entrances with rangoli to welcome prosperity.
- The tradition of buying gold, silver, or utensils is prevalent, symbolizing wealth and good fortune.
- Yamadeep Daan: In the evening, lamps (diyas) are lit for Yama, the god of death, to ward off untimely death.
Day 3: Kali Chaudas / Hanuman Puja (October 30, 2024)
Significance:
Kali Chaudas, also known as Naraka Chaturdashi, is observed to commemorate Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. On this day, people also worship Lord Hanuman for strength and protection.
Rituals:
- People rise early for an Abhyanga Snan (ritual bath) with fragrant oils.
- Special poojas dedicated to Hanuman and the goddess Kali are performed.
- Diyas are lit to drive away evil and darkness from homes.
Day 4: Lakshmi Puja & Main Diwali (October 31, 2024 and November 1, 2024)
Significance:
This is the main day of Diwali, dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the harbinger of wealth, prosperity, and well-being. Diwali also honors the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, as told in the epic Ramayana.
Rituals:
- Homes and temples are adorned with flowers, rangolis, and diyas, symbolising the victory of light.
- Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening to invite the goddess into the home. Business owners also conduct Chopda Puja to close their account books and open new ones for the upcoming financial year.
- Pooja Timing for Lakshmi Puja:
- Amavasya Tithi Begins: October 31, 2024, at 03:52 PM.
- Pradosh Kaal Muhurat (Best Time): 06:03 PM to 08:01 PM.
- Vrishabha Kaal Muhurat (Most Auspicious): 06:23 PM to 08:20 PM.
- Diwali Snan: The pre-dawn ritual bath purifies the body and prepares individuals for the pooja.
Day 5: Govardhan Puja (November 1, 2024)
Significance:
This day is dedicated to Lord Krishna and commemorates the lifting of the Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Vrindavan from torrential rains caused by Lord Indra. It is also celebrated as the Gujarati New Year.
Rituals:
- A symbolic mound representing the Govardhan hill is created using cow dung, and prayers are offered to Lord Krishna.
- Special food offerings called Annakut (a variety of sweets and savory dishes) are prepared and distributed among family and friends.
Day 6: Bhai Dooj (November 2, 2024)
Significance:
Bhai Dooj, also known as Yam Dwitiya, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. It is believed that on this day, Yamraj, the god of death, visited his sister Yamuna, who offered him food and applied a tilak on his forehead.
Rituals:
- Sisters perform aarti for their brothers, apply tilak, and pray for their long life and well-being.
- In return, brothers give gifts as a token of love and promise to protect their sisters.
Conclusion
Diwali 2024 promises to be a time of joyous celebration and reflection. From Govatsa Dwadashi to Bhai Dooj, each day carries its own significance and unique traditions. Whether it’s worshipping Lord Dhanvantari for health, Lord Krishna for protection, or Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity, the essence of Diwali remains the same—celebrating light, unity, and good fortune.
Prepare for Diwali by observing the poojas and rituals with dedication, and may the festival of lights bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to you and your family. For more detailed remedies as per your astrological chart, feel free to book a personalised session with us on www.astronupur.com
Wishing you a bright and prosperous Diwali!