This Diwali, light a lamp of love, blast a chain of sorrow and shoot a rocket of prosperity and happiness

The biggest and the brightest of all the festivals celebrated across India as well as the whole world is about to arrive and fill our lives with joy and happiness. Yes! We all know that’s none other than “Diwali” or as we say “Deepawali” in India.

Such is the magic of this festival that throughout the 4-day celebrations, illuminates the whole nation with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. Though each of the four days during Diwali is separated by a different tradition, what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness. We all know that as per the Hindu calendar,

Diwali is celebrated on the darkest night of the month of Kartik. That is why it is also considered an occasion of victory of light over darkness or good over evil. Kartik month is the 8th lunar month of the Hindu calendar.

This month is considered the holiest of all the months in the Hindu calendar. Kartik Snaan (Bath) is given a lot of importance by Hindus wherein it is customary for people to go to the holy rivers or oceans because it is a general belief that your sins or bad karmas are washed away or forgiven when you perform this ritual, but all these are only symbolic. However, Kartik means change or transformation from the old to the new.

 It is the last festival in the year that is celebrated as the conquest of the virtues over the vices by ‘bathing in the ocean of knowledge’ i.e. ‘Gyaan Ganga’ to cleanse the soul of all the impurities accumulated in the dark ages. It is thus a unique process to change a man (Nar) from ordinary to an elevated perfect man or deity called “ Narayan”. 

Going by history, the festival of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival. However, various legends are pointing to the origin of Diwali or 'Deepawali.' Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Shri Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the goddess of strength.

Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshipped in most Hindu homes today. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana.

Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita Ji and Lakshman Ji from his fourteen-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Lord Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers.

Each day of Diwali has its tale, legend and myth to tell, but one should not forget the fact that behind each of these legends, myths and stories lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. So, this Diwali, merge yourself into the light of lights who is Supreme of all and enlighten yourself from within.    

(The writer is a spiritual educator & popular columnist, views are personal)