Diwali 2021: Why do people gamble on the night of Diwali? Here's what we know

Diwali is the festival of lights and on this day there is a ritual of playing cards and gambling. Well, most people do enjoy playing cards and other games at this festival. But do you know why do people gamble on the night of Diwali. If not, do not worry, we have all the answers here.

According to Indian mythology, it is believed that playing cards and gambling on the festival of lights (Diwali) are done to charm the Goddess Lakshmi and ensure her generosity. Although gambling is illegal in our country, still it finds a place in the tradition and rituals of Diwali. 

According to the Hindu scriptures, it is believed that on Diwali night, Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva gambles and from then, people started practising this ritual.

On the auspicious day of Diwali, the Goddess Parvati plays the game of dice and gambles with Lord Shiva. Parvati is the Hindu goddess. She is known as the epitome of love, fertility, beauty, bravery, harmony, marriage, children and devotion.

According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Goddess Parvati instructed that whoever person will gamble on the Diwali night will be blessed with luck. Later then, this tradition became a popular custom among people.

Since then, people started playing cards like rummy with stakes, flush etc, especially on Diwali night. On this day, people play this game to impress Goddess Lakshmi so that they get blessed with goodwill and prosperity.

The social sanction to the vice of this ritual is that whosoever will not play cards on the auspicious Diwali night, then in the rebirth that individual will get birth as a donkey. 

Aside from the regular gamblers, people find a way to justify that all this is just to remind oneself of Lady Luck’s inconstancy and to build a sense of balance in the chase of material achievement.