India is called as a land of festivals, where there will be one or other festival celebrated by people of different states on different times, throughout the year. Every state has its own unique festivals that are not celebrated in other states. For example, Onam is celebrated in Kerala, but not in any other state. Pongal is celebrated in Tamilnadu, but not known in other states.

Image via Wikipedia

But there is one festival, which is celebrated by almost all states of India. That is Deepavali, also pronounced as Diwali in some parts, which is the Festival of Lights. The word Deepavali is derived from two words ‘Deepam’ which means Lamp and “Oli” which means light. On the day of deepavali, people lit lamps all over their home and also burn / burst crackers.

The celebration of diwali has lot of stories associated with it, which differs from place to place. It is celebrated for four days.

The first day is called as Aswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi, also called as Naraka Chaturdasi. “Naraka” was a demon king, who was the son of Bhumadevi (or Bhudevi) otherwise known as Mother Earth. He did a severe penance (thapas or prayers) towards Lord Brahma and got his wish fulfilled, that he should be killed only by his mother. He was sure that no mother will kill her own son. So, he cruelly tortured all living beings, with his immense power. The unbearable saints pleaded Lord Vishnu to save them from the tyranny of the demon. Lord blessed them that he will kill Naraka during his avatar as Lord Krishna.

During the Krishna avatar, Bhudevi was in the avatar of Satyabhama, wife of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna went for a war with Naraka, having his wife Satyabhama as his Charioteer. During the war, Lord Krishna acted as if he got hurt by the arrows of Naraka and acted as fainted. By seeing this, Satyabhama, who was not aware of her Purvajenma (the previous birth), got angry. She took her bow and aimed arrows at Naraka. Being the mother of Naraka, she was able to kill him. The demon king’s live got ended in the hands of his own mother.

Image via Wikipedia

Before dying, Naraka was blessed by Lord Krishna, which gave him Gyaana, the power of good knowledge. He prayed Krishna and asked for a wish that people should celebrate his death as a festival and should not forget him. Lord Krishna blessed him. This is how the festival diwali origined. It is also said as a festival to remove bad (darkness) from your heart, by lighting lamps of knowledge. Hence as a symbolic representation, everyone lights lamp in their home. Also it also teaches the moral, that a parent should punish their children, if they go on wrong path.

Image via Wikipedia

The second day is Amavasya, the no moon day. This day, people perform Lakshmi pooja and offer prayers towards Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi would be in her benevolent mood on this day and she fulfill the wishes of her devotees. Also, some people believes that it is the day on which Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagara (Ocean of Milk), when the Gods and demons were churning the ocean for nectar (Amrit), which will make them to live forever.

Image via Wikipedia

The third day is “Kartika Shudda Padyami.” The second day celebration is also associated with one more story saying as the day on which Lord Vishnu taught a lesson to a demon king called Bali, but later blessed him because of his good qualities. On this day (Kartika Shudda Padyami), it is believed that Bali would come out of Pathala Loka (underworld) and rule Bhuloka (Earth) as per the boon given by Lord Vishnu. Hence, it is also known as “Bali Padyami”.

The fourth day is referred to as “Yama Dvitiya.” On this day, sisters invite their brothers to their homes and serve them with special dishes and do poojas for their welfare.

In northern parts of India, Diwali is celebrated as the festival to mark return of Lord Ram along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman from his 14 years of exile after killing the demon king Ravana. To commemorate his return to Ayodhya, his people illuminated the entire kingdom with beautiful lamps and burst crackers.

Image via Wikipedia

For the Gujaratis, Marwaris and other business community people, Diwali marks the day for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and also the beginning of the new financial year. For Bengalis, Diwali is the time to worship Goddess Kali or Durga, who killed the demon Mahishasura, which gave Goddess Durga another name as “Mahishasuramardini”.

Image via Wikipedia

Whatever the stories associated, Diwalis is a reason for family get together in most of the families. It is a reason for kids to enjoy wearing new dresses and bursting crackers. It is a reason for elders to enjoy new dishes and sweets, blessing their younger generation. Diwali is a festival of JOY. This time, it falls on October 17, 2009.

Happy Diwali to one and all.