THE mother of all Hindu festivals, Deepavali will be celebrated on Thursday (Nov 4th), an important day, which cast out the dark and bring in the light.
For Indians, the festival of lights is significant because it is the day the goddess of prosperity Lakshmi, find her way into their homes.
The auspicious event is not merely a time for feasting and merrymaking but an occasion to add sparkle to every house to welcome the Goddess of Fortune.
For Hindus, the next three days is vital as they get their homes ready to usher in the joyous occasion.
On Deepavali, Devi Lakshmi comes to bless your house, and it is crucial to prepare appropriately for the annual event.
Indian scriptures give priority to cleansing the place of dwelling. If it is not purified, the occupants will not receive divine blessings of happiness, peace, good health and prosperity.
Before you buy new clothes and accessories, the first step is to inspect your house’s exterior and interior thoroughly.
Note defects like peeling paint, stained walls and doors, broken roof tiles and ceilings, rusty gate, leaking or broken pipes, fused bulbs, dead plants, etc.
Such flaws do not attract positive energy on a special day.
If the paint is peeling, give your walls a new coat of paint and remedy the other faults immediately.
Be wary of cracks on the walls that bring adverse effects to the property dwellers, and it must be plastered over immediately. However, some cracks can bring positive effects.
The significance of cracks appearing on the walls in the eight directions according to Vasthu is listed below:
- East: Ruin of the breadwinner.
- West: Prosperity.
- North: Abundance of wealth.
- South: Harmful to health.
- North-west: Indication of fatal illness.
- North-east: Harmful to female occupants.
- South-east: Hardship and misery.
- South-west: A favourable sign and unexpected fortune.
Next, get rid of withered plants and replace them with some flowering plants in the garden.
The jasmine plant is highly recommended, and it also gives out a pleasant fragrance. Avoid thorny plants, creepers and plants that ooze sap as these do not bring goodness to the dwellers.
The house exterior is given a lot of emphases because it is regarded as the face of the house, and it creates the first impression to visitors.
All disused and broken items like mirrors, plates, glass ware, furniture, toys and other household items should be discarded because they do not benefit the dwellers in any way.
In Vasthu, these items radiate negative energies and thus affect the happy and peaceful mood in the family.
Within the house, clean all cobwebs and dust from the ceilings and walls because they are harmful signs of the dweller running into debt.
Where possible, add a new coat of paint to give the house a fresh look and decorate it with cheerful motifs and greeting cards.
Avoid decorating with black, grey and dark blue colours as they create dullness and a depressing mood. Don’t wear clothes of these colours either.
On the eve of Deepavali, wash the entire house with water, another essential element in Vasthu for cleansing.
Then, burn fragrant incense and walk around the entire house, paying attention to the corners, where negative energies tend to stagnate. This process will purify the house and get rid of unholy spirits and unseen entities.
Beautify the exterior of your house with oil lamps because the festival is represented by fire, which is another vital element in Vasthu.
Fire is the most powerful carrier of your messages and prayers to the cosmic forces. The lamp’s flame has two important qualities: it banishes darkness, and its continuous upward movement denotes the path to wisdom and divinity.
At the main doorway of the house, tie 11 fresh mango leaves to attract positive energy and ward off evil eyes.
On Deepavali morning, it is recommended that everyone gets up early and take an oil bath to remove impurities externally and to tone one’s muscles and nerves to receive positive energies.
After the bath, wear new clothes and perform prayers before seeking blessings and forgiveness from your elders and loved ones. Exchanging gifts and serving traditional sweets are encouraged on this special day to brighten the festive spirit further.
- Award-winning author Dr T. Selva is a speaker and the author of the bestseller book Vasthu Sastra Guide. To get a copy, contact 019-2728464. He can be reached at [email protected] Facebook: Vasthu Sastra and Website: www.vasthusastra.com
Oil lamps overcome darkness, and the continuously rising flames symbolise the upward path to wisdom and divinity.
