Diwali is also called the festival of lights and has been celebrated since ancient times. It is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism and other names are Deepavali, Diwali or Deevali. During Diwali, lights are lit throughout the house and yards. The symbolic meaning is the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and bliss over ignorance. It is the only festival that unites all of India. It is difficult to say what exactly is the origin behind Diwali. There are many stories and legends about the origins of this festival. There are about ten mythological and historical reasons that possibly explain the origin of the celebration of Diwali.
Ramayana
The most famous legend behind Diwali is that of Ramayana, the great Hindu epic. According to Ramayana, Rama – the prince of Ayodhya – was ordered by his father – King Dasaratha – to leave the country and come back after living in the forest for fourteen years. So Rama went into exile along with his devoted wife Sita and faithful brother Lakshmana. When Ravana – the demon king or Lanka – kidnapped Sita and took him to his island kingdom of Lanka, Rama fought back and killed Ravana. He rescued Sita and returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years. The people of Ayodhya were very happy when they heard that their beloved prince was coming home. To celebrate Rama’s return to Ayodhya, the people lit their houses with earthen lamps or diyas and decorated the entire city in grand style.
Drive lightly
It is believed that this story started the tradition of Diwali. Year after year, the homecoming of God Rama is remembered through Diwali with lights, fireworks, rituals and merriment. The festival gets its name Deepawali or Diwali from the Sanskrit dipavali which means a row of lights. Dipas are oil lamps and diyas or divas are traditional small earthenware bowls with a cotton wick and clarified butter (ghee). Diwali is also the beginning of the new year according to the Vikrama calendar or to be precise it is the fourth day of Diwali, because Diwali is religiously celebrated for five days. The Hindu era was introduced by King Vikrama.
Lakshmi
It is also believed that on Diwali, the Goddess of wealth, prosperity, light, beauty and fertility – Goddess Lakshmi – rose from the ocean. The Hindu scriptures tell us that long ago both the Devas (Gods) and the Asuras (Demons) were mortal. They had to die one day just like humans, but they wanted to live forever. Therefore, they churned the ocean to seek Amrita, the nectar of immortality (an event known in Hindu scriptures as Samudra-manthan), during this event many sacred objects and Gods arose. The foremost was Goddess Lakshmi, the daughter of the King of the Milky Ocean. She was resurrected on the New Monday (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month. On the same evening, God Vishnu married her. Brilliant lamps were lit and placed in rows to mark this sacred event. Even today, Hindus celebrate the birth of Goddess Lakshmi and her wedding to God Vishnu on Diwali and ask for her blessings for the coming year.
Pure and clean
Diwali is accompanied by the consumption of sweet food and fireworks. It is a cheerful festival and is often celebrated as a family. The associated ceremonies are there to ensure good luck in the house. It’s a party for everyone; young and old, man and woman, rich and poor. It is celebrated to welcome light into life which is associated with success and hope. It falls on a different day each year, because the date is determined by the Hindu calendar r, but is always celebrated in the months of October or November. The people and their houses should be clean during Diwali which means pure and clean. The house is therefore completely cleaned and decorated with garlands and drawings on the floor of floral motifs made from specially colored flour materials. The body is purified by meditation, a vegetarian diet and no alcohol consumption, a bath and clean or new clothes. During the third day, people often wish each other Shubh Diwali which means Happy Festival of Lights. On the fourth day, gifts are often exchanged and old legendary stories are told.