On behalf of ISKCON Gurugram, we warmly extend our heartfelt wishes to you and your family for a joyous, peaceful, and spiritually uplifting Diwali. May this Festival of Lights illuminate your home and heart with the divine blessings of Lord Krishna, filling your life with love, prosperity, and inner joy.Have you ever wondered why Diwali, celebrated around the world with grand enthusiasm, holds such profound spiritual significance? What deeper truths and timeless wisdom does this radiant festival offer beyond the vibrant lamps and festive cheer? As the sacred festival of Deepawali approaches, we invite you to explore its true essence with us. How does this celebration light up not only our surroundings but also our souls with divine love and devotion?Did you know that Diwali is not just a one-day event but a five-day festival, during which 10 sacred lilas (divine pastimes) unfold? What lessons do these stories from the past hold for our lives today?
Join us on a reflective journey through these five auspicious days as we uncover the spiritual meanings behind Deepawali in this illuminating blog from ISKCON Gurugram.
Journey Through Diwali: Exploring the 5 Days of Divine Lilas and Celebrations
Each day reveals a new facet of the Lord’s compassion, protection, and love for His devotees.
1. Dhanteras / Dhanvantari Trayodashi
The festival begins with Dhanteras, celebrated 2 days before Diwali, marking the divine manifestations of Lord Vishnu during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean).
On this very auspicious day ,In His Kurma Avatar, the Lord supported Mount Mandar on His back, enabling the churning.
As Lord Dhanvantari, He appeared carrying the sacred pot of nectar (amrita) and bestowed the science of Ayurveda for the welfare of humanity.
The Lord also manifested as Mohini Murti, the enchanting form who bewildered the demons and ensured that only the devas received the divine nectar.
2.Narak Chaturdashi
This day celebrates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, who had imprisoned 16,100 princesses. The Lord killed Narakasura, liberated the princesses, and accepted them as His wives upon their request.
On the same day, Krishna also defeated the demon Mura, earning Him the glorious name Murari—“the enemy of Mura.”
3.Diwali – The Festival of Lights
The most awaited day of Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, along with Mother Sita and Lakshman. The citizens of Ayodhya welcomed Them with thousands of lamps, filling the city with divine radiance, joy, and music.
Tulsidas beautifully describes this moment in the Ramcharitmanas:
“नगरकोट दीप जलैं, घर-घर होत उजियार।
हरषित लोग सुमंगल गावैं, बजत मृदंग, पुकार॥”
Lamps were lit in every home of Ayodhya; the whole city glowed with light.
The people rejoiced, singing auspicious songs as drums and instruments played in celebration.
On this same divine day, Mother Yashoda bound little Krishna with a rope in the famous Damodar Lila, a pastime lovingly celebrated through the recitation of the Damodarashtakam. While tied, Krishna mercifully liberated the two sons of Kubera from their curse, teaching that the Lord is bound only by the love of His devotees.
4. Bali Pratipada and Govardhan Puja
The fourth day honors Lord Vamana, who blessed King Bali Maharaj with eternal fame and devotion.
It is also celebrated as Govardhan Puja, when Lord Krishna lifted the massive Govardhan Hill with His little finger to protect the residents of Vrindavan from torrential rains sent by Indra. Devotees worship Govardhan Hill as the embodiment of Krishna’s mercy and love.
5.Bhai Dooj (Yam Dwitiya)
The final day of Diwali celebrates the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, Yamuna Devi invited her brother Yamaraj for a feast. Pleased by her love, Yamaraj blessed that any brother who visits his sister and receives her offerings on this day would be protected from untimely death. Thus, Bhai Dooj is a celebration of divine affection and protection.
As we journey through these five sacred days, let us remember that the true essence of Diwali lies not just in lighting lamps outside, but in illuminating the lamp of devotion within our hearts—offering it to the Supreme Lord with love and gratitude.
Lighting the Inner Lamp: A Spiritual Vision of Festivals
At times, life feels monotonous and routine. These festivals remind us of what truly matters and rekindle our connection with the divine purpose of existence. Today, the world seems engulfed in the flames of greed, uncertainty, natural and man-made calamities, and conflict. Yet, amidst this turmoil, festivals stand as beacons of hope — bringing light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and goodness over evil. They inspire us to look within, purify our hearts, and seek the blessings of the Supreme Lord.The return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya marked the dawn of all auspiciousness, as every citizen was centered on Him, their hearts brimming with devotion and Ram-consciousness. Each person performed their duties with love and surrender to their beloved Lord. Similarly, when Lord Rama enters our hearts and lives, He brings with Him goodness, peace, and positivity in every aspect of our being.
As Albert Einstein rightly said, we cannot solve a problem with the same level of consciousness that created it. In the same way, we cannot remove our inner impurities (anarthas) by our own effort alone.
On this sacred festival of Diwali, let us pray to Lord Sri Ramachandra to remove all unwanted elements from our hearts and eternally reside within them, illuminating our lives with divine grace.
As the Bhagavad Gita (10.11) beautifully states:
तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तम: ।
नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ॥ ११ ॥
meaning that out of compassion, the Lord dwells within our hearts and destroys the darkness of ignorance with the shining lamp of knowledge.
Similarly, as expressed in the Ramcharitmanas,
जिनके हृदय बसहिं रघुवीरा,
सकल मनोरथ होहिं शरीरा
Those hearts where Lord Rama resides find all desires fulfilled and life blossoming with divine joy. May this Diwali inspire us to welcome Lord Rama’s eternal presence, bringing peace, positivity, and spiritual illumination to our inner selves and beyond.
Illuminate Your Heart This Diwali with ISKCON Gurugram
Diwali, the festival of lights, reminds us that true wealth is not found in gold or jewels—but in the divine blessings of the Supreme Lord. While homes are cleaned and decorated to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, real prosperity shines in the heart that is pure and filled with devotion.
At ISKCON Gurugram, we celebrate Diwali not merely with lamps and sweets, but with the light of bhakti. The temple glows with hundreds of diyas and candles, melodious kirtans fill the atmosphere, and devotees joyfully sing the Damodarashtkam, offering lamps to Lord Damodar (Krishna). Delectable bhoga is offered to the Deities, followed by a grand festive feast — a true celebration of love, joy, and surrender.
This Diwali, let us remember that the most precious gift we can share is the Holy Name:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
May this Diwali fill your life with the divine light of love, peace, and happiness. Let’s celebrate by spreading compassion — support ISKCON Gurugram’s prasadam distribution and help bring joy to those in need, for truly, nobody becomes poor by giving.
As this festival of lights fills our lives with divine radiance, let us remember that Diwali is not just a celebration of lamps, but a reminder of the victory of light over darkness, truth over illusion, and devotion over pride. Each of these festivals carries timeless spiritual lessons — guiding us to live with purity, compassion, and complete surrender to the Supreme Lord.
On this auspicious occasion, let us come together to celebrate Diwali in a spirit of unity and devotion, bringing peace to our hearts and spreading the light of joy and Krishna consciousness to everyone’s life.
At ISKCON Gurugram, devotees honor this sacred occasion with heartfelt bhajans, kirtans, and offerings to Lord Krishna — rejoicing in the eternal light of His mercy.
May this Diwali 2025 inspire each of us to illuminate our consciousness with bhakti and carry the flame of spiritual wisdom to every corner of the world.
Wishing you and your family a blissful, safe, and spiritually enriched Diwali from ISKCON Gurugram May the divine light of Lord Krishna forever shine in your heart.