Significance
and Celebration of Diwali
Day 2: The fourteenth day
(chaturdashi)
of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin
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Ablution with oil
(abhyangasnan): According to Shrimadbhagvat Puran,
on this day Lord Krushna
slayed a powerful demon, Narkasur. The dying Narkasur asked
Lord Krushna for a boon, "On this date (tithi) let
one, who takes an auspicious bath (mangalsnan) not suffer
in hell." Lord Krushna granted him that boon. Consequently,
this day also came to be known as Narak (hell) chaturdashi,
and on that day people started taking an auspicious bath (abhyangasnan)
before sunrise. |
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Yamatarpan and arati:
On this day, one performs Yamatarpan, that is, offering
to the deity of death (Lord Yama) after an auspicious bath
(bath with an oil massage) to overcome untimely death (apamrutyu).
Thereafter, the mother moves lit lamps in front of her children's
faces to commemorate the celebration of Lord Krushna's victory.
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