How Gold Plays A Major Role In Indian Culture

 |  by Michael Locklear

Each year the people of India celebrate what is generally known as the “Festival of Lights”. In northern India the festival is called Diwali and it is one of the largest religious celebrations in the nation. The people will lite oil in small clay vessels to celebrate the victory of light over darkness or in another sense, good over evil. The events of the festival involve dressing in your finest clothes, setting off firecrackers, sharing food with friends and family and the giving of gifts. The Goddess Lakshmi is a central focus of the jubilation. She is revered as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity among the Hindus. Although other sects within India also celebrate during this time Diwali is honored in many countries from Nepal to Fiji. In addition to Lakshmi , the festival also honors Lord Rama and his victory over the evil demon Ravana. In a society as complex as India there are numerous expressions of this festival among the varied religious groups.

The Janis and the Sikhs also honor this holy period which lasts from mid-October into December. During this time many groups celebrate for many different reasons. In 2012 the festival falls on November 11. They’re also different ways of pronouncing the name of this special day. Dawali can be pronounced Deepawali and in some cases it’s Dhanteras.

In honor of the “awareness of inner light” Deepawali is also the beginning of the New Year for Hindus and the business new year. It is believed that the goddess of fortune and good luck will visit your house if your home is brightly lit with diyas, or clay pots filled with burning oil.

Lord Dhanvantri is revered as the teacher of Ayurveda, the central philosophy of medicine in India. It is believed that he emerged from the ocean on the first day of Deepawali or Dawali. This first day is focused on prosperity and wealth.

The starting point of the religious season is the day of Dhanteras and is seen as the best day to buy gold coin and jewelry. Most Hindus see this day as a preferred time to enter into new businesses and other projects since it is the most auspicious time of the season. Hindus clean and decorate their homes with mango leaves and marigolds

Rangolis, a form of Indian folk art, are beautifully intricate designs made of brightly colored rice powder. They consist of complex geometric designs which are painted on the floor of the homes and in the courtyard outside

Creating Rangolis is an important expression of religion for all of the Indian people. They are symbols of belief both culturally and help to demonstrate a central life philosophy. Each room of the home may have a rangoli at its entrance. The shapes within the designs, such as Lotus flowers and flower petals have a particular meaning. Some are symbols of prosperity or others may be used to celebrate the spirit. All levels of society can show their reverence for their beliefs through the symbols.

Like the Western observance of Christmas there are a great abundance of special foods and gifts which are purchased and given during the season of Deepawali. Sweets, dried fruit, chocolate and a wide assortment of decorations and gifts for children play a central role.

This is all leading up to why gold is such a major part of me Diwali observance. Since the central theme of the season of lights is wealth and prosperity and the basic human desire is to be well provided for, then this time of year is essential for the well-being of all the people in India and a dozen other cultures.

As the story goes, in a time long ago a saint name Durvasa went out for a walk. While walking on this particular day, he met Dev Indra. When he met Indra he gave an offering of a flower garland in tribute. He said that this didn’t go well as Indra did not acknowledge the saint and simply disregarded the garland and flew away on his flying ship known as Airvata. This reaction angered the saint. Durvasa in his anger put a curse on Indra saying that Laksmi would abandon him. Indra came to his senses and realized that he’d made a major error and felt ashamed. Indra apologized to the saint in an effort to make amends for his irreverence but the saint replied that it was too late and now only Lord Vishnu could help to undo what he had done.

Indra was indeed abandoned by the Goddess Laksmi and he lost everything he had including all of his wealth, power and his entire kingdom. After this he was set upon by demons and he was attacked.

After all these disasters fall upon him, Indra sought out his teacher and spiritual guide Brihaspati and asked to accompany him to see Vishnu. He was told by Vishnu to turn the demons who besieged him into friends and with these demons he should go to the sea and churn it up into a milky froth to receive the milk of immortality. When Indra and his companions were done the city produced nectar which he then gave to all the gods and they drank it. Having done this a beautiful lotus flower appeared and it was Laksmi. She returned the nectar pot to Indra and everything he had lost was restored. So this is the story of how the Goddess of wealth and prosperity was born and Diwali is a celebration of the birth of the Goddess.

In India it is a must to worship and honor the Goddess Laksmi on her special day if you want to be assured of wealth and prosperity in the coming year. What better way to do this than to show your faith by giving lavish gifts of gold?