Today, Labh Pacham - the final festival during the Diwali period is Labh Pancham on Kartik Sud 5. It is also known as 'Laakheni Panchmi' and 'Saubhaagya Panchmi.'
Those who have not performed Sharda Pujan or Lakshmi Puja on Diwali, perform pujan of their new ledgers today and ritually open their shops and businesses. In the days following Diwali including today, people visit friends and relatives, to renew solidarity. Sweets and other items are offered to guests, symbolically 'sweetening' relations.
'Labh' means benefit. People today usually wish for material 'labh' such as: a good job, good in-laws, riches and so forth. Yet the scriptures and sadhus inform us that the greatest 'labh' is human birth itself. With this one should endeavor for God-realization. The scriptures define 'labh' as - "Laabhasteshaam jayasteshaam kutasteshaam paraajayaha, Yeshaam indeevarashyaam hrudayastho janaardanaha.", meaning He is the true beneficiary and the truly victorious, who has installed the consort of Lakshmi, God, in his heart.
Diwali then, is a festival of inner enlightenment. It is an occasion to eradicate one's inner darkness, by renouncing any addictions, bad habits and 'doshas' - base instincts, by obeying the Shikshapatri and the God-realized sadhu. One then becomes 'Brahmarup' and is subsequently graced with the ultimate enlightenment - Parabrahman.
Those who have not performed Sharda Pujan or Lakshmi Puja on Diwali, perform pujan of their new ledgers today and ritually open their shops and businesses. In the days following Diwali including today, people visit friends and relatives, to renew solidarity. Sweets and other items are offered to guests, symbolically 'sweetening' relations.
'Labh' means benefit. People today usually wish for material 'labh' such as: a good job, good in-laws, riches and so forth. Yet the scriptures and sadhus inform us that the greatest 'labh' is human birth itself. With this one should endeavor for God-realization. The scriptures define 'labh' as - "Laabhasteshaam jayasteshaam kutasteshaam paraajayaha, Yeshaam indeevarashyaam hrudayastho janaardanaha.", meaning He is the true beneficiary and the truly victorious, who has installed the consort of Lakshmi, God, in his heart.
Diwali then, is a festival of inner enlightenment. It is an occasion to eradicate one's inner darkness, by renouncing any addictions, bad habits and 'doshas' - base instincts, by obeying the Shikshapatri and the God-realized sadhu. One then becomes 'Brahmarup' and is subsequently graced with the ultimate enlightenment - Parabrahman.
