Divali is the festival of lights. The spiritual
significance of Divali is to enlighten your heart with the flame of
Radha Krishn love and remove the darkness of worldliness. The word
‘Deepavali’ literally means
‘rows of candles.’ Divali is celebrated about 20 days
after Dashehra which falls in October-November. This festival
commemorates Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after completing His
14-year exile. To celebrate the occasion, people light oil lamps in
and around their house and light firecrackers. People paint and
clean their homes, buy new clothes and distribute sweets to their
relatives and friends.
In Braj leelas, Divali has a unique charm.
Five thousand years ago when Radha Krishn appeared They played among
Their eternal associates (the Brajwasis who had descended
with Them from Divine Vrindaban) and revealed all kinds of loving
leelas. Once, near the beautiful pond on Govardhan hill, called
Mansi Ganga, Radha and Krishn celebrated Divali in a new and
charming way. Govardhan hill was glittering, glowing and twinkling
with the light of thousands of candles.
Radha Rani with all Her Sakhis and Krishn
with Madhumangal and His other Gwalbal friends arrived at
opposite sides of Mansi Ganga. Each of the groups lit thousands of
golden candles and floated them on the waters of the pond. Then both
of the groups kept moving the water with their hands very gently so
that the candles floated ahead. The water of the entire Mansi Ganga
was now illuminated with the glowing candles.
When both groups of candles reached the center of
the pond they began to intermingle and formed one group. Gopis
who were watching this festivity expressed their over-joyousness by
repeatedly saying, “Glory to Radhey, glory to Krishn, and glory to
(this unexampled glittering ornamentation of) Divali.” The Bliss
that Radha Krishn revealed in this loving leela is beyond
description. Shree Maharajji showers the same nectar of Braj
ras during the Divali celebrations at Bhakti Dham in Mangarh.
Divali festivities at
Mangarh attract devotees
from all over India and the world. The Satsang Hall and ashram
buildings are lavishly decorated with sparkling lights. In the early
morning Shree Maharajji leads a parikrama chanting with
thousands of devotees. Special pad kirtans associated with
Divali festival are sung. Shree Maharajji Graces the audience with
his Divine discourse and all the devotees receive prasad
(sweets). In the evening there is a colorful fireworks display. The
Grace that devotees experience at this most auspicious time is
further magnified because it is also the day that we celebrate the birthday of our beloved
Divine mother, Ammaji.
