Importance of Diwali Festival celebrations in India

Spiritual Significance

Hindu puja on the eve of Diwali.While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light".Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (Inner Joy or Peace).

Diwali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. While the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region, the essence is the same - to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).India is a land of festivals. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated with fervor and gaiety. The festival is celebrated by young and old, rich and poor, throughout the country to dispel darkness and light up their lives. The festival symbolizes unity in diversity as every state celebrates it in its own special way.

The celebration of the four-day festival commences on Aswayuja Bahula Chaturdasi and concludes on Kartika Shudda Vijiya. The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.

Coming close on the heels of Dussehra, Diwali is celebrated on the last day of the Gujarati calendar year, and generally comes in the months of October or November, on the English calendar. It is one of the most important Indian festivals and is celebrated on a mass scale by Indians not only in India, but also all over the world.

The actual festivities start from Dhanteras, which is celebrated two days before Diwali. Everybody goes out of their way to make big purchases and buy new clothes and jewellery. This is because this day is considered auspicious for wealth, and it is said that if you buy any silver or gold on this day, you will be lucky throughout the year. The goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day through a Lakshmipujan, which is performed not only in the homes but in shops and offices as well.
Legends Associated with Diwali

Lord Rama who was a distinguished warrior King was banished from the kingdom by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya after being provoked by his wife to do so. Rama’s wife’s Sita, along with his younger brother Lakshman, accompanied him in his exile. After vanquishing the demon Ravana, Lord Rama returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya at the end of his 14 years of exile. The victory of Lord Rama over Ravana signified the triumph of good over evil and people welcomed him back home by lighting rows of clay lamps and since then Diwali is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil.

According to Hindu mythology Diwali is celebrated to mark the triumph of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu over the demon Narkasura, who unleashed great misery amidst the people of the world. Narkasura who was a demon of filth abducted beautiful young women and compelled them to live with him. However, their cries for help reached Vishnu who appeared in the form of Krishna. Initially, Krishna had to overpower a five-headed monster who defended the demon’s home. However Narkasura pleaded with Krishna to make his death a joy for others. Krishna acceded to his request and the women were liberated. For Hindus, this legend is a pointer to the fact that good can still emerge from evil.

According to another legend, Diwali acts as a reminder to the Hindus of the significance of food. According to folklore, many years ago in the village of Gokula, people paid their reverence to God Indra believing that it was Indra who sent the rains which made their crops luxuriant. However, Krishna insisted that the people should worship the mountain Govardhan, since the mountain and the adjoining land were fertile. This infuriated Indra who sent thunder and heavy rain down on the village. The people sought Krishna’s help. Krishna came to the aid of the villagers by lifting the top of the mountain with his finger.

The other version is that when Lord Vishnu in the guise of Vamana, sought three feet of land from the generous demon king Bali, the latter had to surrender his head as Vamana had conquered the earth and the sky in two strides. Lord Vishnu banishes Bali into the Pathala Loka (netherland) by keeping his third stride on Bali's head. Later, pleased by his generosity, Lord Vishnu grants him a boon and he in turn requests the Lord to guard his palace at Pathala Loka.
Significance in Sikhism

The story of Diwali for the Sikhs is a story of the Sikh struggle for freedom. From the time of Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539), the founder of Sikhism, popular seasonal or folk festivals like the harvest festival of Baisakhi, or previously ancient Hindu festivals such as Holi and Diwali began to take on a new significance for the Guru’s students, the Sikhs. The Guru used these festivals and special days e.g. first day of each lunar month, as symbols or pegs for his teaching themes. The enlightened ideology of Guru Nanak gave new significance to ancient festivals like Diwali and Baisakhi

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