by Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi and Roop Chaturdashi) is the festival of lights and is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm throughout India and even by Indians settled abroad. Diwali has spread its awareness and love among the foreigners also, and thus, they participate in global culture too.
Why Do We Celebrate Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi)?
Diwali as very popularly known is celebrated for 5 main days. Starting from Dhanteras, then Choti Diwali followed by Main Badi Diwali with post puja ceremonies of Goverdhan Puja and Bhai Dooj. Its also known as Naraka Chaturdashi and Roop Chaturdashi. What a grand celebration! In fact, people start preparing for Diwali a month before. They clean their house thoroughly and decorate it with lights and new furnishings.
They indulge in buying gifts and Diyas as well as crackers for all loved ones. Schools and Colleges even have a holiday post-Diwali and the whole nation is in a new energetic mood. Some of the families go out for domestic and international travels to relax and enjoy the Diwali Holidays.
The significance of Choti Diwali
The day after the Dhanteras Puja and just before the main Diwali is celebrated as the Choti Diwali or say Small Diwali. Most of the Hindu people celebrate this festival with much enthusiasm waiting for a much more majestic Badi Diwali. However, they do celebrate this day by lighting fewer amounts of lights and crackers.
Also Read: Goddess lakshmi pooja vidhi on deepavali
How does the Celebration of the Choti Diwali take place?
Women often termed as “Grihalakshmi” adorn their home with attractive and colourful rangolis and scented flowers from early morning. Some women stick tiny red footprints of the beloved Goddess Lakshmi at the main door of their house, which shows that divine Goddess Lakshmi will come home today and would love the decoration and the devotion of the family. It is a way to give her respect. By the evening, all the family members wear new clothes and indulge in Lakshmi Puja. There is a grand Aarti in the end followed by spiritual Bhajans.
After the puja takes place, all enlightened Diyas are placed inside and on the exteriors of the house. Even it is good to place on the main doors and near the Tulsi plant, clean water sources at home, etc. Children should take blessings from their elders by touching their feet. This teaches them the principles and values of Hindu culture.
Historical significance behind the Choti Diwali Celebration
Choti Diwali is also called “Bali Pratipada,” which means someone under the foot of a challenger.
Bali, who was a very majestic and dominating king, was getting influential and much more powerful day by day. He never used to respect the Gods. Gods feared that he would conquer all the three lokas and rule them with his unjust ways. Then Lord Vishnu took the initiative and went to fight with him in a special “Vamana” avatar. He requested him to give only 3-feet space of his kingdom to him. Bali, full of pride, addressed him as a beggar, and said, “Since you made a plea, I would give you some space.”
Lord Vishnu, who was smart enough, covered all the 3 lokas in only 2 footsteps. Then very politely, he asked Bali where he could put his last, third step? Bali feeling bad asked him to put his third feet on his head.
Thus, with wittiness and bravery, Lord Vishnu had taken all the three lokas from Bali. Hindu People hence celebrate this day as a small or Chhoti Diwali to rejoice the victory of goodness over evil.
