Deepawali India is a land of unity in integrity. People of various tribes, races and religions live there in India. Every sect has its unique identity and rituals. But most of the population follows Hinduism. So their festivals are also associated with various Hindu mythological events. Deepawali is the festival of lights. It is one of the main Indian festivals and almost all the people of various religions celebrate Diwali in all parts of India in various forms. It has become the national festival of India. This festival is celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik. People light candles, earthen lamps and place them in front of their home entrances and over their roof tops in the form of rows. With the advancement of technology electrical lights have taken the place of traditional Diwali Lights. Thus Diwali lights involve Diwali candles, Diwali earthern lamps, and Diwali electric lamps etc. Thus Deepawali or Diwali word had originated form the row (wali) of earthen lamps (deep). In the dark night the rows of burning earthen lamps present a very pleasant view and it looks as if stars have come down to earth and have got scattered all over.

Deepawali night

Hinduism For various religions, Deepawali has a unique importance. Hindus celebrate this festival to remember their lord Rama’s return to his kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. According to Hindu epic Ramayana people of his kingdom has lighted earthen lamps to celebrate his return to Ayodhya. According to Ramayana, Lord Rama had returned to Ayodhya after killing, Ravana, the devil king of Lanka. So this festival also symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Deepawali falls after twenty days of another Hindu festival Dushehra. It is believed that on this day Lord Rama had killed the demon king Ravana. So these festivals symbolize the origin of light of spiritualism and removal of spiritual darkness. This festival is also the symbol of new starting.

Celebrate Diwali

Sikhism Jains believed that on this day their 24^th Tirthankara, Mahavira had attained nirvana in 527 BC. For Sikhs this day commemorates the return of their 6^th Guru, Guru Har Gobind Singh Ji to the holy city of Amritsar. Mogul King, Jahangir had imprisoned Sikh Guru along with 52 other Hindu kings of small states in the fort of Gwalior. All those 52 Hindu kings had also been released because Guru Har Gobind Singh had cleverly fulfilled Jahangir’s conditions of ‘whoever can hold to the Guru’s cloak can be released’. Guru Har Gobind Singh got made a special cloak which had 52 tails and all the Hindu Kings came out of the gates of Gwalior fort along with Guru Har Gobind Singh. Sikhs celebrate this day as bandi Chor divas which means the day of the release of prisoners. On Guru’s return to Amritsar people had illuminated the town to greet him. Amritsar’s Deepawali is world famous and people; especially Sikhs come to Amritsar to celebrated and see this festival.

Worships Diwali preparations start prior too many days to the Diwali divas. People clean their houses and whitewash them. They decorate their homes with colorful beads, hanging bells, wall hangings, diyas (earthen lamps) etc. In south Indian states, people design floor paintings on their door steps to welcome the visiting deity Diwali festival is mainly associated with Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Lord Rama and Krishna were the human form of Lord Vishnu. So people of India worship Lord Vishnu and other deities who are associated with him. On the Deepawali night people keep the doors of their homes open because it is believed that on this night goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi visits every household. So people worship Lakshmi throughout whole of the Diwali day and night. It must be learnt that goddess Lakshmi is the consort of Lord Vishnu. But people of West Bengal worship goddess Kali on this day. Goddess Kali is the consort of Lord Shiva.

Diwali Eve

People For people of different ages Diwali festival has special importance. Children wait for this day as new clothes are bought and worn on this day. Firecrackers are burst to celebrate the death of evil forces. Sweets are bought eaten after performing the Lakshmi pooja. People buy ornaments, jewelry and automobiles on this day. As for as the business sector is concerned, Diwali brings cheers on the faces of the businessmen as most of people spend most on this day. Diwali also marks the start of the festival season and the marriage season. People present Diwali gifts to their near and dear ones on Diwali divas. Diwali gifts involve, clothes, special Diwali sweets, special Diwali dry fruits, Diwali ornaments and some times costly items and goods. Different people have different reasons to celebrate Diwali but we can not rule out that this festival is also related with the harvesting season. By this day the monsoon season ends and coolness is felt in the air. An after it, harvesting starts. This festival is not an Indian festival but is celebrated in most of the Indian sub continental counties.