India
Diwali simply means the big day for Indians, as it is a much prominent festival and the celebration takes place in full swing across the nation. After Dhanteras and Choti Diwali, devotees used to get prepared for the worship of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on Deepawali. Although Diwali during the day is all about praying, beautifying households, and indulging in some of the best Diwali presents, people used to look forward to Diwali night.
The years-old ritual of gambling on Diwali night follows the lighting of diyas and the performance of Diwali pujan.
Diwali, Clay Lamps and Wagering
As many of us know that in India on Diwali night, playing cards are indeed very popular since it is considered that gambling on the festival of lights delights Goddess Lakshmi, and also secures her kindness, the card game teen patti is especially popular.
Goddess Parvati is also believed to have gambled with her husband Lord Shiva during Diwali night, and the Goddess commanded that whoever gambled on Diwali night would thrive for the rest of the year. Ever since it has become a famous sight to see people playing cards such as flush and rummy with bets on Deepawali.
Because of the importance of money on Diwali night, it is also regarded to be fortunate for gambling. Providing social sanction to a vice, it is said that if someone does not play cards on Diwali night, he or she will be reincarnated as a donkey in the next life.
People gather with their friends and family members to gamble and play cards as the Deepawali night progresses. Gamblers seek legalisation for their favourite game by referring to the celestial dice game, which is said to be played on a fortunate night by Lord Shiva and his companion Parvati.
Furthermore, if you have been to Ellora's Kailash temple, you have probably observed the scene sculpted in the cave.
Individuals rationalise that this is only to remind oneself of Lady Luck's unpredictability and to instil a sense of balance in the pursuit of material achievement, aside from the regular gamblers.
Diwali most eminent Indian celebration of Lights and Cards
Diwali, one of India's most vital Hindu festivals, is a sight to behold in the country's largest cities. Diwali is not only a light celebration but also a dice festival. This is because Hindus believe that during this five-day festival, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, will visit their homes and bless them for the next year. Indulging in friendly gambling is one method to recognize this, as it is thought that this is one way to summon the goddess. Gambling parties, for example, are arranged in Mumbai during the holiday, where people gather to bet and celebrate. In addition, millions of people play the Diwali Bumper online lottery in the hopes of winning a grand amount.
Diwali is a well-known Hindu festival, with ceremonies that varies a lot greatly depends on which country you live in or are planning to visit. The festival lasts five days and has a different start date each year, but this is also true that it usually falls between the end of October and the start of November.
It is a festival of light because clay oil lamps (diyas) are always set at the entrance of each home, no matter wherever you are in India. As per Hindu legend, after 14 years in exile, the god Lord Rama returned to his country, and his people lighted such oil lamps to welcome him back. It is also thought that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, will pay a visit to Hindus' illuminated houses, which must be completely cleaned and tastefully decorated in order to delight and attract the goddess as well as visitors.
Aside from decorating and lighting diyas, different localities and tribes have different ways of celebrating this event. Diwali is celebrated in the north with a lot of pyrotechnics and ceremonial gambling at home. The event is enjoyed by the wealthy families by going on a shopping spree for gold, jewellery, clothing, and other luxury gifts for their family members or for oneself.
Diwali, on the other hand, is celebrated in a more basic manner in more secluded and calmer communities. Because of the scarcity of money, simple offerings and tiny feasts are the norms, whereas firecrackers and extravagant gifts are rarely seen. The vacation is regarded as a complete experience that lasts five days, the third of which is the most enjoyable.
Making Your bets during Diwali
One of the primary tasks during the festival, as previously indicated, is celebratory gambling. Throughout Diwali, such parties, which take place in farmhouses and bungalows between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., are really popular in Mumbai. People do not mind losing during these events because it is considered a pleasurable activity that can also satisfy the goddess Lakshmi.
Folks celebrate it as a holiday, inviting friends and family into their homes to experience the warmth and good emotions. There are many other games to choose from, but the most prominent are Teen Patti (three-card brag), blackjack, and poker. Even the little ones can participate in friendly gambling games, with no actual stakes, while the adults engage in the real thing in a separate room. Goddess Parvati, according to mythology, won a dice game with her husband Lord Shiva on the fourth day of Diwali. She went on to say that anyone who gambled on Diwali would be prosperous for the rest of the year.
On top of all that, according to Lottosmile India, Future Gaming, India's largest lottery distributor, holds a huge lottery dubbed the Diwali Bumper Lottery during the Diwali celebration. The first prize in this lottery is a total of 10 crores or 1000 lakhs (about £1.1 million), which is split between two lucky winners at 5 crores respectively.
Not only that but each year hundreds of winning tickets are picked, with a total reward fund of over 17 crores for the entire lottery. Isn't that exciting? You may have been unable to attend this year's event due to a scheduling conflict, but don't worry.
We have got you covered, and we would like to show you our top lottery sites in India rating, where we have done the required research to explore all of the various lottery options available to you besides the Diwali Bumper Lottery.
Though Diwali is the most favourite festival of Indian's and is only five days long, and not everything nice must come to an end. If you want to honour the goddess of wealth while continuing to gamble throughout the year, you can do so by visiting an online casino. From the comfort of your own home, you may play a variety of table games, slots, and even play against live dealers. To begin your journey, all you need is a computer or a mobile device. If this sounds appealing to you, be sure to check out our list of the finest online casinos in India to find your next favourite gaming destination.
Do you used to feel exhausted? Certainly, we won't be much surprised to know this. It is possible that you came across this post on your feed after a restless evening of playing cards. After all, it happens during Diwali season, and no one can say no to a little extravagance.
By the way, have you ever considered how gambling, which is forbidden in the nation, finds its way into our Diwali celebrations?
Indian mythology provides one of the likely answers. Gambling on Diwali night is thought to invoke Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, who may bestow favours on the player's family for the rest of the year.
Parvati is also said to have played dice with her husband Shiva on this day. In actuality, this scene is sculpted at the Kailash temple in Ellora. Goddess Laksmi said that anyone who bet on Diwali night would succeed for the rest of the year.
Another belief is that gambling makes individuals conscious of Lady Luck's fickle character, as well as bringing about a sense of material equilibrium.
Everything appears to be part of the wider ceremonies centred on the invocation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. As a result, some important Diwali rituals revolve around money–it is thought to be a particularly fortunate opportunity to gain new assets and make new investments, as well as to purchase and bet.
In reality, the days leading up to Diwali have grown to be viewed as an auspicious time to make any large purchases, especially those that are thought to increase productivity, such as automobiles, machines, and electronics. You don't need us to remind you about the festive season deals now available on India's top e-commerce platforms.
Diwali also symbolises the new financial year for much of India's commercial and business industry because it commemorates the Hindu New Year. As a result, there is a lot of activity on the stock market around this time.
According to Forbes contributor Leeza Mangaldas, “In contrast to the austerity of several other faith traditions, in Hinduism, wealth and spirituality are not seen as antithetical. Wealth gained by honest means is considered divine, and while greed is discouraged, it is perfectly acceptable to pray for financial success and prosperity.”
Infact during diwali season, we all might recall Aamir and Shah Rukh bonding over a game of cards, and the actor revealed that his favourite part of Diwali is the gambling. "The gambling is my favourite part of this festival! I'm a risky gambler. I enjoy it, but I only do it (play cards) once a year around this time. I enjoy playing poker and am looking forward to doing so”, Aamir Khan told DNA.
Conclusion
Gambling is one of the Diwali rituals that has been passed down through the generations. Families and loved ones meet each other to play cards or dice. Goddess Parvati is said to have played dice with her spouse Lord Shiva on this day (a scene beautifully sculpted at Kailash temple, Ellora), and she ordered that the one who gambled on Diwali night would thrive for the rest of the year. On this specific day, the tradition of playing cards—flash and rummy—with stakes continues to this day.
Families consider playing cards during Diwali to be fortunate. On the eve of Diwali, cards are generally played in every house, and friends and relatives are asked to play with the family. The true reason for playing cards or gambling at this festival is shrouded in a number of urban myths.
On this day, an ancient tradition of playing cards began with the game of dice, which is today known as poker. The game evolved from dice to Teen Patti or Flash and Rummy.
Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, according to tradition, played dice and won and lost to each other. The game represents the creation and destruction cycle, as well as fragmentation and oneness.
On Diwali, it is also popularly believed that if you do not play cards, you would be reborn as a donkey.
It's also said that those who play cards on Deepawali will be wealthy for the rest of the year.
On this day, it is considered lucky to play cards. For casinos, clubs, and gambling houses, Diwali week is a significant business day.
The true purpose of playing this game is to bring good fortune, prosperity, and a sense of balance in one's material demands.
This year's great Diwali festival is on 4th November, we from the team of justgamblers hope you will have a happy and prosperous Diwali.