*Diwali Series :* *Part 1* 🪔 Vasubaras — The Festival of Nourishment and Gratitude (A Divine Celebration of Life’s Nurturing Energy and Thankfulness)

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🌼*Wishing You All a Very Happy Diwali!*

The festival of Diwali — the Festival of Light — begins today, marking the most auspicious, vibrant, and joyful time of the year.

From Vasubaras to Bhai Dooj, these six days are not merely about rituals;

they are a celebration of life’s energy, health, and gratitude.

As the old saying goes:

“When saints and noble souls visit your home, it becomes Diwali and Dussehra.”

Meaning — when purity, goodwill, and gratitude light up a home,

it shines brighter than any lamp,

and every day there becomes Diwali, every moment a Dussehra.

🌿*The Indian Festival Tradition — A Harmony of Science and Joy*

In Indian culture, festivals are not just religious events;

they are living expressions of life’s science.

Our sages — as Sadguru Wamanrao Pai says —

“were not only spiritual seekers but great scientists of their times —

astronomers, psychologists, and healers of life.”

They studied time, the movement of the seasons,

geography, and the subtle relationship between the Earth and the Sun.

From this deep understanding arose a way of living in rhythm with nature —

a lifestyle of balance, awareness, and gratitude.

Because not everyone could understand complex science,

our sages wrapped it lovingly in the language of devotion, symbols, and stories.

Thus, science was sweetened with spirituality,

and devotion kept that wisdom alive through centuries.

A festival, therefore, is a sacred confluence of joy, gratitude, and well-being.

The fragrance of flowers, the glow of lamps, the taste of sweets,

the rhythm of music, and the warmth of togetherness —

these are nature’s ways to rejuvenate the body, calm the mind, and unite hearts.

🌾 *India — The Agrarian Civilization and the Sacred Cow*

India is an agrarian land — our culture has grown from the soil.

Agriculture was not just a livelihood but the very heartbeat of society,

and in this way of life, the cow held a place of reverence and centrality.

The cow was not merely an animal — she was the living symbol of the life cycle.

She gave strength to the farmer through her bullocks,

fertility to the earth through her manure,

and nourishment to the family through her milk.

Milk, curd, butter, and ghee are elixirs of life.

Cow urine and Panchagavya — a mixture of five cow products —

have long been recognized in Ayurveda for their healing and antiseptic properties.

Wherever a cow dwells, she radiates positive, life-supporting energy.

Hence, cowsheds, fields, and homes form a natural triangle of vitality.

In ancient times, one’s wealth was measured by the number of cows one owned —

“He who owns cows is truly rich.”

Because wealth did not mean gold or money;

it meant the means to sustain life.

Thus, serving and protecting cows was considered the highest virtue —

for in serving the cow, one serves nature, earth, and life itself.

🐄*Vasubaras — The Celebration of* *Motherhood,*

*Nourishment, and Bio-Energy*

The first day of Diwali, Vasubaras, is a day of life-giving wealth.

On this day, cows and their calves are worshipped.

According to legend, Lord Krishna once protected the cows on this day,

and from then on, it became a festival of gratitude

toward all beings that sustain human life.

It is a reminder that every creature that supports life — directly or indirectly —

deserves our reverence.

The word “Vasu” means life-giving wealth,

and “Baras” (the twelfth lunar day) signifies a sacred day of renewal.

Together, Vasubaras becomes a festival to awaken the life-force within us.

💫*Scientific Perspective*

During this time — in the month of Kartika —

the Earth’s angle with the Sun shifts.

Days grow shorter, nights longer, and the body’s biological energy begins to slow down.

To balance this seasonal transition, the body needs warmth, nourishment, and vitality.

Cow’s milk, rich in proteins, calcium, and healthy fats,

helps maintain this energy equilibrium.

Ayurveda prescribes this period as the Vata-balancing season —

hence, foods like milk, ghee, and warm, unctuous meals

are recommended for stability and strength.

Thus, Vasubaras marks the beginning of health rejuvenation for the winter months ahead.

🌼 Spiritual Symbolism

Worshipping the cow is not merely a ritual;

it is an expression of gratitude toward creation.

She embodies the five elements —

the steadiness of Earth, the purity of Water,

the warmth of Fire, the motion of Air, and the vastness of Space.

The cow is a symbol of motherhood —

of giving, nurturing, and creating harmony around her.

To love the cow is to love nature itself.

🌞 The Message for Modern Times

In today’s world, celebrating Vasubaras means much more than a traditional custom.

It is a call to live with awareness —

to honour our food, our health, and our environment.

We drink milk every day, but forget the life-energy it carries.

Vasubaras reminds us,

“Food is not just matter; it is energy.”

And the true source of that energy is gratitude.

✨ *Essence of Vasubaras*

Vasubaras is the festival of motherhood, nourishment, and gratitude.

Life is nourished not merely by food, but by reverence, love, and thankfulness.

Tomorrow, we continue with —

🌿 Dhanatrayodashi — The True Wealth of Health,

where “Dhan” means not money, but health, balance, and life-energy.

🪔 Diwali Reflections

By – *Jayant Joshi*