Why is Diwali celebrated in India?

The festival of lights, Diwali, is celebrated all across India with great enthusiasm. It is one of the biggest festivals during which people engage in activities such as lighting diyas, decorating their homes, distributing sweets, worshiping God, bursting firecrackers, making rangoli, and enjoying time with family and friends. Though Diwali is considered a Hindu festival, this day also marks significant events in different communities, such as Sikhs, Jains, business communities and more. So, let us delve into the known and lesser-known reasons behind the celebration of Deepavali in India.

1. The Victory of Lord Rama over Ravana

The seventh descendant of the God Vishnu, Lord Rama, defeated Ravana and returned to Ayodhya on this day. On his arrival, the people of Ayodhya lit their homes with Diyas. They decorated the entire city of Ayodhya with flowers, Diyas and Rangoli. And, year after year, this tradition continued as a celebration of his arrival and victory of virtue over evil. The literal meaning of Deepawali, or Diwali, is lighting lamps (Deepa) in a row (Avali).

The Hindu epic “Ramayana” narrates the story of Lord Ram from his birth, exile, kidnapping of his wife Sita, ferocious battle with the demon king, and victorious return to his kingdom Ayodhya to many more significant events which have vitally shaped the history and culture of the Indian subcontinent. This epic is engraved across many temples in India and Southeast Asia. For example, the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia and the Prambanan temple in Indonesia have depicted scenes from Ramayana. Similarly, Ramaswamy temple, Virupaksha temple, Kanchi Kailasanathar temple, and many more temples across Indian features cravings from the epic Ramayana.

2. The Enlightenment of Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Swami Dayanand Saraswati got enlightenment on the new moon day of Kartik month, (Diwali day), so Diwali is marked as his Moksha divas or day of liberation. After getting Nirvana, Swami Dayananda Saraswati became Maharishi Dayananda. He was also considered one of the great reformers of India who founded the Arya Samaj in the year 1875 to purify Hinduism from its evils, such as caste discrimination. He also advocated for widow remarriage and women's education, which was not widely accepted in society during that time.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati was among the few saints who demanded Swaraj or liberation from British rule. Prominent freedom revolutionaries, such as Shyama Krishna Varma, Swami Shraddhanand and Lala Lajpat Rai, were his disciples. Even patriots such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Bhagat Singh and many others assimilated the patriotism promoted by the Arya Samaj. 

3. The Legend of King Mahabali

According to the Bhagavata Purana (also known as Srimad Bhagavatam), an ancient Hindu text, Lord Vishnu rescued Devi Lakshmi from King Bali on this day. Bali was a powerful demon king who was given a boon by Lord Brahma, which made him invincible, and no gods could defeat him. Though a generous king, he was way too aggressive with the gods. Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a short Brahmin and asked for three steps of land. The king gracefully granted his wish instead of getting a warning from his guru regarding the true identity of the Brahmin.

Once the king granted the wish, Lord Vishnu changed to his cosmic size and measured his kingdom, which included his wealth (Devi Lakshmi) and everything he had with his two steps. But there was no place for the third step, and Bali offered his head. Seeing his devotion, Lord Vishnu granted him a boon that he could return to his homeland once a year, which is celebrated as Onam in Kerala.

4. Special Day for Sikhs

Sikhs have special reason to celebrate this day, known as Bandhi Chhor Diwas. At the heart of this celebration lies a story of sacrifice and courage. Bandi Choor Diwas marks the brave act of the Sikh Six Guru Hargobind Singh Ji, who bravely secured the freedom of 52 Rajput kings along with his own from the imprisonment of Mughal emperor Jahangir.

Guru Hargobind took the throne after his father's demise and started developing his military strength. Threatened by his growing power, the nawab of Lahore, Murtja Khan, informed emperor Jahangir, who sent his trusted aid, Wazir Khan, to arrest Guru Hargobind. But Wazir admired the Guru and requested him to come to Delhi, where they arrested him. However, at the request of the Sufi saint, Main Mir, Jehangir accepted to release Guru Hargobind. But Guru Ji refused to return until all the 52 kings held hostage by the emperor were freed. The emperor challenged him, believing that it could not be attained- every king must hold on to the Guru’s Chola as he made his way out of the prison. Guru Ji accepted the challenge and told his tailor to stitch a Chola with 52 panels so that everyone could hold it, and this was how all the kings got released.

5. The Birthday of Goddess Lakshmi

It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean on the day of Diwali, when gods (devas) and demons (asuras) churned the ocean for the nectar of immortality, which is also termed Samudra-Manthan in the Hindu scriptures. Devi Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and prosperity; therefore, during Diwali, she is worshipped by devotees across the country.

The whole incident is mentioned in various ancient Hindu texts such as Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Mahabharata, and Padma Purana. To celebrate the incarnation of the Goddess, devotees light lamps and decorate their homes with flowers. Special pooja such as Lakshmi Pooja is performed to get the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Some devotees also offer fruits, flowers and special dishes to the goddess to ensure she feels welcomed.

6. Vardhamana Mahavira’s Spiritual Enlightenment

For Jains, Diwali holds a special significance, as it coincides with the day when the 23rd and the last Tirthankaras of Jain’s Vardhamana Mahavira got enlightenment or moksha. So, Diwali is not only a festival of lights for Jains but also a day to follow the principles of Mahavira teachings which are non-violence, truth, non-stealing, chastity and non-attachment.

Mahavira was born into a royal family, so he was always surrounded by luxury and wealth. However, despite his royal lifestyle, he displayed detachment from material pleasures. But a major turning point came into his life when his parents passed away. It struck him how impermanent life is, even inside the strong walls of the palace. At 30, he left his home, leaving behind his wealth and kingdom. According to ancient texts, he did rigorous penance for twelve years and attained infinite knowledge while meditating under a Sala tree at Jrimbhikgrama (Now Bihar) on the night of Diwali.

7. Lord Krishna Killed Narakasura

According to Bhagavad Purana, there was a demon named Narakashura, who performed severe austerities to please gods and got boons from them. However, after attaining great powers from them, he misused them and conquered the heaven and the earth. He abducted princesses and killed thousands of people in wars. When Lord Vishnu incarnated on earth as Krishna, he killed Narakashura and released 16,000 women from the demon.

However, there is another version of the story in which Lord Krishna's wife, Sathyabhama killed the demon. Sathyabhama was the incarnation of the Bhudevi, or Mother Earth, who had the power to eliminate Narakashura. But before death, the demon acknowledged his mistakes and requested a boon that everyone would celebrate his death. The goddess grants him the boon, and from then, two days before Diwali, Naraka Chaturdasi is celebrated.

8. Pandavas Return to Hastinapur

As per the longest-ever written epic, Mahabharata, Pandavas, return to Hastinapur on Kartik Amavasya (Day of Diwali) after 13 years of banishment from their kingdom. Their return to the kingdom is marked as the triumph of good over evil and the joyous homecoming of five brothers with their mother and wife.

The game of dice played an essential role in the exile of the Pandavas from Hastinapur. Shakuni and Duryodhana very cleverly manipulated Pandavas to play the game of dice with them. In the game, Pandavas lost everything from their kingdom to their wife and eventually fought a war with Kauravas, which they won with the help of Lord Krishna.

9. Goddess Kali Kills Demons

While most people in north India worship goddess Lakshmi and lord Ganesh on Diwali, people of West Bengal worship goddess Kali. According to a legend, demons were causing atrocities in all three worlds- Heaven, Earth and the underworld. The Devas lost the battles with Rakshasas and prayed to Goddess Durga to kill them.

Goddesses appeared and started fighting with the demons. During the battle, her anger intensified and manifested as Kali- a ferocious form of the divine mother. However, after getting victorious, Kali lost control over her anger, and Shiva had to intervene to stop her. So, Mahadev laid down, and Kali stepped over his chest, but soon realized her mistake, and her tongue stuck out in embarrassment. This event happened on the Amavasya of the Kartik month (on the night of Diwali) and was celebrated as Kali’s victory over the demons.

10. Legendary King Vikramaditya's Coronation

Vikramaditya was the most generous, noble, and powerful ruler of ancient India. It is said that those who were born during his reign were the most fortunate people. Some legends say that he was so brilliant in giving the right justice that Indra, who was the god of rain and thunder, once invited him to resolve the dispute between the celestials.

It is said that he was coronated on the day of Diwali after he won a battle with Sakas. His coronation was celebrated by his entire kingdom. Some texts say that he ruled a vast empire which stretches from modern-day Thailand to Saudi Arabia. Many famous stories are written surrounding him- Two famous stories are Baital Pachisi and Simhasana-Dwatrimshika. These stories are typically not a part of the curriculum of the best schools in Nalagarh, but you can explore them through other sources.

The Conclusion

So, India celebrates Diwali for several reasons, but these narratives do not detract us from its essence. The common thread that connects every reason is the triumph of good over evil, so it does not matter whether someone celebrates it for the victory of lord Rama or the enlightenment of Mahavira. All the diverse stories behind Diwali connect us all and give us all the warmth of togetherness.

Happy Diwali to everyone!

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