DEEPAWALI, the festival of lights, is the most popular and the most auspicious festival celebrated on Amavasya – the dark fortnight of the month of Kartik (October – November). The literal meaning of Deepawali is an arrow of light (deep-dipa or light, awali-arrow). The theme of this festival is the triumph of good over evil. It also signfies the time of transition from darkness to light, which empowers us to illuminate our inner selves and commit ourselves to do good deeds and lead us to the realization of the true sense of the spirit, which washes away all the negative attitudes. Various legends, mythologies and rituals are associated with the celebration of the Deepawali festival.

The festival begins two days prior to the main Deepawali. The first day is known as Dhanteras. It is known by various names viz: Dhantrayodashi – a special ritual is accomplished where lamps are lit for every individual and for ancestors. Yaamdeepdaan is another name of Dhanteras, and the legend is about the sixteen-year-old son of king Hima. According to his horoscope, he would be bitten by a snake on the fourth day of his marriage. So, on that day, his worried wife lighted innumerable lamps all over the palace and laid all the ornaments as well as gold and silver coins at the entrance. She sang the whole night and narrated stories to keep her husband awake. When Yama, the God of death, arrived there in the guise of a serpent, his eyes were blinded by the dazzle of the lamps and coins, as a result of which he could not enter the princely chamber. After listening to the melodious songs the whole night, he left the palace in the morning. Thus, the young wife was successful in saving her husband from the jaws of certain death. Since then, this day is known as Yaamdeepdaan – lighted lamps are kept burning the whole night to keep away evil spirits from the home. In South India, the day is marked by buying new utensils and gold and silver coins.

The second day is called Narakachaturdashi or Choti Diwali, which falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight. Legends say that Naraka acquired immense power from the blessings given by Lord Brahma. By virtue of his mighty power, he started torturing people, and imprisoned hundreds of women in his palace, which totally negated the purpose for which he had been given these blessings by the Lord. Naraka also had a boon that he would face death only at the hands of his mother, Satyabhama (wife of Krishna), the re-incarnation of Bhudevi, who freed all the prisoners. After slaying Narakasura, Shri Krishna had an oil bath to rid himself of the blood spattered on his body. The practice of having an oil bath is in vogue in some parts of South India even today. Besides this, the Yadava community, which consider themselves to be descendents of Lord Krishna, show gratitude to their cattle on Narakachaturdashi. The ritual of cattle worship is also prevalent in Maharashtra and some other states.

Another legend associated with Deepawali is that of King Bali of the nether world, whose mighty power had become a threat to the Gods. He performed a Yagna, which was so successful that even the Gods were terrified and unable to summon courage to appear before him, with the apprehension that what he might ask for could be beyond Their capacity to grant. In order to control his power, Lord Vishnu, in the disguise of a small Bamana, visited his palace, and begged him to give that much of land which He could cover with His three steps. Bali was also famous for his generosity, and gladly granted it without a second thought. Once His request was conceded, the God in disguise covered the entire world with one step, heaven with His second step, and for the third step, there was no place to put His foot on. Left with no alternative, the annoyed King Bali offered his head. Lord Vishnu placed His foot over Bali’s head, and pushed him into the nether world.

Bali came to realize the actual fact only after granting the request of the Bamana. He should have applied his conscience and analyzed the request from several angles – such as why the Bamana was asking for such a small thing, what was the need of these three steps of land, what He wanted to do with this small piece of land in the palace, and whether He was really a beggar or otherwise. But, all rational ideas had been overshadowed by his ego of being a mighty king as well as a great philanthropist. He was also oblivious of the limitation of physical strength and beyond that, the role played by the Supreme Being in human life, as the final authority lies with Him. However, Bali, with folded hands, prayed to Lord Vishnu that he might be allowed to return to Earth once a year to light the lamps to dispel the darkness. Now, it was Lord Vishnu’s turn to comfort Bali, and graciously allow him his request. Thus, this day is celebrated as Bali Pratipaa, commemorating the annual visit of the demon king Bali to spread the radiance of love and wisdom.

One of the popular legends related to the festival is the homecoming of Lord Rama, after vanquishing Ravana and the recovery of His wife Sita. The people of Ayodha were overwhelmed with joy and welcomed Rama, Sita and Laxmana by illuminating entire Ayodha. Legends claim that it took twenty days for Rama to return home after defeating Ravana and, after His subsequent coronation as king, the people of Ayodha lighted rows of oil lamps to welcome the prince. To remember this glorious event of victory of good over evil, lamps are lit to celebrate the Deepawali festival.

Another main feature of Deepawali, which is popular in the northern and western parts of India, is the worship of Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth, wisdom and prosperity. People of this part of the country clean up their homes because it is believed that Goddess Laxmi likes cleanliness and pays a visit to every house on the occasion of Deepawali. Legends say that on this day, Goddess Laxmi emerged from the ocean with the Amrit Kalash (nectar pot), when the Gods and demons were churning the ocean during the Samudra Manthan for procuring amrit (nectar). The common aim of human beings is to become prosperous in life, and Her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead. But, in the eastern part of India – in West Bengal and in some parts of the North East, Deepawali is also celebrated as Kali Puja, which symbolizes the destruction of all kinds of evil forces. On this day, houses and streets are decorated with lights, which is considered to be a source of positive energy. One of the notable rituals of the Bengali community is that every social festival or ceremony is accompanied with idol worship.

The popularity of Deepawali is confined not only to the Hindus, but is also observed by other religious communities like the Jains, the Sikhs and the Buddhists. The Jains celebrate Deepawali as it is believed that Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana on this day, which symbolically keeps the light of their master’s knowledge alive. The celebration of Deepawali by the Sikh community gained momentum when the sixth Guru, Hargobindji was freed from imprisonment, along with fifty-two princes, by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. This day is known as Bandi Chhorh Divas, and they celebrate the return of Guru Hargobindji by illuminating the Golden Temple. The tradition of the celebration of this festival continues till date.

The significance of celebrating Deepawali or Diwali by lighting a lamp is for awareness of inner light. The philosophy is the assertion of something beyond outward physical appearance; it is the light of self illumination for realisation of the right path. As light symbolises knowledge, which can outshine all ignorance or darkness i.e. anger, greed, violence, jealousy, injustice, oppression, ego feeling, hatred etc., hence, in Hindu tradition, it is the ritual to begin the prayer or Puja by lighting an oil lamp, because in prayer, purification of mind is most essential. The same is true in the case of Deepawali. If we simply celebrate this festival by lighting up lamps and by bursting crackers, it is nothing but a wastage of money and time. Rather, it will accelerate the magnitude of pollution. Celebrations of this festival in a superficial way may come and go, but the minds of the millions will remain ignorant, and our quest for peace and prosperity will simply go in vain.

Thus, the true message of the celebration of the Deepawali festival is to manifest the divine quality within man, which illuminates the intellect and strengthens wisdom. The same is to be adopted in practical life through activities as and when the situation commands, as shown by Lord Rama and Lord Krishna for the welfare of mankind.

Therefore, may we all celebrate this glorious festival of Deepawali by lighting the lamp of knowledge in such a manner that we are able to overcome all the evil elements of our minds and also remove the social maladies we are facing today, and bring everlasting peace and harmony amongst us forever.

B. Iboton Sharma