History
The ninth month of the Hindu Calender is ‘Mrugshirsh’ or ‘Margashirsh’. Till 1752 the different calendars prevailed in Europe which had August / September or even March as the starting months and even the Hindu calendar used to start with ‘Margashirsh’. This month is of particular importance as this is the month of Lord Krushna as is evidenced by the verse ‘Masanam Margashirshoham’ of 10th ‘Adhyay’ of ‘Shrimad Bhagvad Gita’, the philosophical epic by lord ‘Krishna which is the bible for the ‘Hindus’. In Maharashtra this day is celebrated in Margashirsh as the day of celebration of the Diwali by all ‘Dev’s i.e. gods. Hence the name ‘Devdiwali’. This is also known as ‘Tripuri Paurnima’ as it is believed that ‘Lord Shankar’ destroyed the three cities of the three ‘Asurs’ (evil forces) on the day of ‘Kartiki Paurnima. The followers of ‘Lord Vishnu’ believe that he returned to ‘Vaikunth’ on this day of ‘Kartik Paurnima’ after the ‘Vamanavatar’. As such in northern India, Devdiwali is celebrated in the month of ‘Kartik’.
