Debate broke out again in Kashi regarding the date of Diwali, Vidya Parishad told on 31 October

Varanasi, 29 October (Hindustan Reporter). In the city of Kashipuradhipati Baba Vishwanath, a debate has again erupted among the learned people regarding Diwali Lakshmi Pujan. Kashi Vidvat Parishad has told to celebrate Diwali on 31st October as per the scriptures. So Pandit Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid, who determined the auspicious time for laying the foundation stone and consecration of Ramlala's temple in Ayodhya, has declared November 1 as Diwali.

Under the leadership of Pt. Ganeshwar Shastri, Shri Girvanvagvardhini Sabha of Shri Vallabharam Shaligram Sangveda Vidyalaya located in Ramghat has said that celebrating Diwali on November 1 is right as per the scriptures on the basis of evidence from the texts of astrology and theology. “Tatra Suryodayam Vyapya Astotaram Ghatikadhikaratrivyapini Darshe Sati Na Sandehah” According to this Dharmasindhuvachan, according to the calendar in which there is Amavasya for one Ghati (24 minutes) after sunset, Diwali Lakshmi Puja will be held on Friday, 1 November.

There is Amavasya on 1st November in the famous Ganesh Aapa Panchang of Kashi and Shrimadbapu Dev Shastri Pravartit Driksiddha Panchang. But according to the Hrishikesh Panchang of Kashi, the pilgrims will have to perform Lakshmi Puja on Thursday, 31st October. The reason is that as per Hrishikesh Panchang, sunset is happening on 1st November at 5:32 pm, before that Amavasya is ending at 5:13 pm. The said decision has been made according to these texts – Dharmasindhu, Niranyansindhu, Krityamanjari, Tihitattva, Veeramitrodaya, Krityasarasamuchaya, Jaisinghkalpadrum, Shabdakalpadrum, Parvanirnaya, Varshakrityadeepak and Varshakritya. The conclusion is that Lakshmi Puja is to be performed during Pradosh Kaal as soon as the sunset, for which Amavasya must remain for one Ghati (24 minutes) after sunset.

Accordingly, after seeing the time of sunset in your respective (city and village), if there is Amavasya 24 minutes after sunset, perform Lakshmi Puja on Friday, 1st November and if Amavasya is less than 24 minutes, perform Lakshmi Puja on Thursday, 31st October. In Hrishikesh calendar, sunset is at 5:32 pm on Friday, 01 November and before that Amavasya is ending at 5:13 pm. Thus, according to the three main almanacs of Kashi, Ganesh Aapa Panchang and Shrimadbapu Dev Shastri Pravartit Driksiddha Panchang, Diwali Lakshmi worship in Kashi on Friday, November 1 is undisputed. On the other hand, this conclusion of Shri Girvanvagvardhini Sabha has been challenged by Kashi Vidvat Parishad. The Council says that confusion is being spread on the date of Diwali. Celebrating Diwali on 31st October is correct according to the scriptures. Council Chairman Prof. Vashishtha Tripathi and General Secretary Prof. Ramnarayan Dwivedi bluntly said that if any scholar from Kashi has any objection to this then he can submit a debate. Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotishpeeth has also said that it is right to celebrate Diwali on 31st October.

Kashi Vidvat Parishad, while mentioning Dharmasindhu, said that if there is Pradoshvyapti of Amavasya on both the days during Diwali, the value of Amavasya Tithi will go above 66 Ghati. Even if only the presence of Amavasya is accepted during the Pradosh period of both the days, it would be scriptural to celebrate Diwali on 31st October this year. If Amavasya starts after sunset or Astakal on the next day and continues for one Ghati even after 3 hours 45 minutes after sunset on the next day, then only it would be appropriate to celebrate Diwali on the next day. But this symptom is not occurring in any part of the country.