The Day of Light ritual

The first day of the ancient calendars falls on the March equinox, the first day of spring, the day of light. At the time of the equinox, the sun is observed to be directly over the equator, and the north and south poles of the Earth lie along the solar terminator; sunlight is evenly divided between the north and south hemispheres.

It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical, vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed.  The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year.

In association with the "rebirth of nature," extensive spring-cleaning is a wonderful ritual to honor as the birth of a new year. This is also extended to the personal aspect with ones intention of this day as it is especially powerful for the rest of the year and often will affect the outcome of the rest of the year. So, if a person is warm and kind to their relatives, friends and neighbors on the day of light then the new year will be a good one.

It is wise to begin with cleaning homes, known as ‘spring cleaning.’ This is observed days before the day of light. Clean every part of your house, dust furniture and wash carpets. This is practiced to welcome the new spring season with freshness.

On the day of light the fire ritual, where a silver urn with a small fire nourished by sandalwood and 7 haoma seeds and the silent contemplation of light, allows for the fire symbolically to purify the inner fire of Divine Love.

Everyone present to the fire ceremony can toss a sandalwood twig into the fire, intending the offering to represent the relinquishing of some attachment or psychological limitation that one wishes to be consumed by the fire. The ritual thus symbolizes the physical representations of surrendering and giving up desires and limitations to the light of Divine love.