This year's Diwali festival is about to get underway, with Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs across Australia set to celebrate on Monday and throughout the month.
Devotees will bring festivities into their homes by lighting earthen lamps called diyas, setting off fireworks, displaying coloured electric lights and exchanging gifts.
In northern India, this date also marks the beginning of the new year.
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The day is specially dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity and good fortune.
Who is Lakshmi?
In modern images, Lakshmi is typically depicted wearing either a red or a green sari.
The upper two of her four hands are holding lotus flowers, while her lower right hand is upraised in the "do not be afraid" gesture, or abhaya mudra.
Her lower left hand is pointed downward with her palm facing out and golden coins are falling from it.
She sits or stands upon a large red lotus flower.
Often, there are two elephants behind her with their trunks upraised.
As poet Patricia Monaghan writes, sometimes these elephants "shower her with water from belly-round urns".
Lakshmi is believed to be the consort of Vishnu, who is the preserver of the cosmic order, or dharma.
As Vishnu's shakti, or power, Lakshmi is his equal and an integral part of his being.
In the Srivaishnava tradition of Hinduism, Lakshmi and Vishnu make up a single deity, known as Lakshmi Narayana.
Also known as Shri, Lakshmi is believed to mediate between her human devotees and Vishnu.
Origins of Lakshmi
Devotees all over the world pray to the goddess Lakshmi on Diwali.
Shri, in fact, seems to be the earliest name given to this goddess in Hindu texts.
This word originally means splendour and it refers to all that is auspicious: all the good and beautiful things in life.
The name Lakshmi, on the other hand, refers to a sign, imprint or manifestation of Shri.
These two words seem to refer to two distinct goddesses in the earliest Hindu literature, the Vedas.
By the first century, however, which is the period of the writing of the "Puranas," or the ancient lore of the Hindu deities, these two deities appear to have merged into a single goddess, known as Shri, Lakshmi or Shri Lakshmi.
There are many stories of Lakshmi's origins.
In the most popular of these, from the fifth century Vishnu Purana, she emerges from the ocean when the Devas and Asuras, the gods and the anti-gods, churn it to acquire amrita, the elixir of immortality.
In another source – the Garuda Purana, a ninth-century text – she is said to be the daughter of the Vedic sage Bhrigu and his wife, Khyati.
Those who wish for prosperity in the new year say special prayers to Lakshmi and light diyas in their homes so the goddess will visit and bless them.
Diwali events around Australia
The centre of the celebrations in Sydney will be in the city's west.
The City of Parramatta's lighting installation along the Parramatta River Foreshore and on Wigram Street in Harris Park is a colourful place to visit to mark the occasion.
There's also a Little India Harris Park Diwali Fair on Wigram Street on October 30.
This Saturday, the Deepavali Festival, which will have activities for all the family, is at Rouse Hill Town Centre from 11am to 6pm.
On Sunday, from 11am-3pm, Cherrybrook Village will also hold a Deepavali Festival.
On October 29, head to Bradfield Park in North Sydney for a celebration from 3pm.
It promises food and other stalls, free henna a photo booth and cultural performances.
Find all the details here.
Brisbane's Diwali Indian Festival of Lights is happening on October 28.
The free 11am-11pm celebrations include food and arts and are at King George Square.
Heading west, and Diwali Mela 2022 is on throughout this weekend at Claremont Showgrounds in Perth from 3pm-9.30pm.
Authentic Indian snacks and clothes will be on sale, cultural dancing will be on display, and the event will end in style with fireworks.
Adelaide's Diwali event is on November 6 is at the city's showground.
Melbourne's landmark Federation Square will be the centre of celebrations in the city on October 29.
Yoga and meditation, workshops of Indian dancing, games, henna painting, a bazaar and authentic Indian street food are planned.
Fireworks on the river will round out the day.
This article uses contributions republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.
