| Diwali tamaso
ma jyotirgamaya But of course, one can be a bit more comprehensive: asato
ma sadgamaya Lead me from the
untruth to the truth. (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad — I.iii.28)
The festival symbolizes unity in diversity as every state celebrates it in its own special way. The most common celebration is about Rama and Sita: Lord Rama, a great warrior King, was exiled for fourteen years by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with Rama's wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman, on Dashratha’s wife's insistence. After adventorous periods in the forests across India during which time Rama fought and killed the mighty demon Ravana, Lord Rama returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya where the people welcomed him and his family by lighting rows of clay lamps to the city. Diwali is an occasion in honor of Rama's victory over Ravana; of Truth's victory over Evil. However
there are many other stories: Defeat of Narkasur by Lord Krishna: The demon Narkasura was a demon of filth, covered in dirt who would kidnap beautiful young women and force them to live with him, causing great unhappiness amongst the people of the world. Their cries for rescue were heard by Vishnu, who came in the form of 8th incarnation as Krishna. First, Krishna had to fight with a five-headed monster who guarded the demon's home. Narkasura hoped that his death might bring joy to others. Krishna granted his request and the women were freed. For Hindus, this story is a reminder that good can still come out of evil. Krishna
and the Mountain: In the village of Gokula people prayed to
the God Indra because they believed that Indra sent the rains, which
made their crops, grow. But Krishna came along and persuaded the people
to worship the mountain Govardhan, because the mountain and the land
around it were fertile. This did not please Indra who sent thunder and
torrential rain down on the village. The people cried to Krishna to
help, and he saved the villagers by lifting the top of the mountain
with his finger. The offering of food to God on this day of Diwali is
a reminder to Hindus of the importance of food and it is a time for
being thankful to God for the bounty of nature. Sikhs: When the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji was being released from his captivity at the city, Gwalior in autumn of 1619, he asked the Emperor if his fellow Rajput princes could also be released. Emperor agreed, provided each prince was “attached” to Guru Hargobind Ji. Since there were 52 princes, the Guru got a cape with 52 “tails” wherein each of the princes held onto each tail, thereby getting released with the Guru. To commemorate this, many diyas (oil lamps) were lit along the way to Harmandhir Sahib (Golden Temple). This day coincides with Diwali, and thus Bandi Chhor Divas ("Day of Liberation") and Diwali are celebrated on the same day. Jains: Diwali is one of the most important festivals for the Jains who celebrate the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira who established the dharma followed by the Jains. Lord Mahavira was born as Vardhamana on Chaitra Shukla 13th in the Nata clan at Khattiya-kundapura, near Vaishali. He obtained Kevala Gyana on Vishakha Shukla 10 at the Jambhraka village on the banks of Rijukula river at the age of 42. Gujaratis and Marwaris: For the business community, Diwali marks the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and also the beginning of the new financial year. Bengalis: The celebration is to worship Goddess Kali or Durga who continued her "Vilaya Tandava" even after killing demon Mahishasura. Fireworks: Modern India has been celebrating Diwali with a huge amount of fireworks, so-much-so, that pollution caused by these fireworks has led them to be banned in metro cities like Delhi. But fireworks have been used to celebrate Diwali for many hundreds of years.
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