Significance of an Oil bath (Ganga or Abhyanga snan)
Traditionally Oil bath is a ritual on Diwali, the Festival of Lights
Today is Festival of Lights observed by Hindus all around to world. Diwali (generally called in Northern India) but the right word for this auspicious day is Deepavali, generally used in South India which comes from a Sanskrit vocabulary meaning a “line of lamps”.
While in the northern regions, people consider Diwali as the day Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana return from 14 years of exile, in the southern regions except the state of Kerala, Deepavali is celebrated to mark the death of asura Narakasura at the hands of Lord Krishna.
As per mythology, goddess Mahalaxmi is said to have hidden behind a sesame tree, which is why sesame oil is used for the oil bath, explains writer Malika Guru. Symbolically, an oil bath implies new beginnings by removing egos, fights, self-esteem and jealousy. Additionally, when it comes to health and well-being, sesame oil is considered beneficial for reducing heat from the body.
An Oil bath on Deepavali is believed to have equal merit to taking a bath in the sacred Ganges river in India
