Significance of Diwali

Diwali is a time for great enjoyment, fun and frolic. Everything is lit up very brightly as young and old, rich and poor alike dress up in new clothes and indulges in sweetmeats. It truly a festival of lights as oil lamps and diyas are left burning all night to guide the Goddess Lakshmi when she visits homes. The celebrations of this joyous festival signify the removal of all darkness, jealousy, greed, envy and other negative emotions from the face of this earth. In its place shines the light of wisdom and knowledge. This is also the reason why so many lamps and diyas are left burning on Diwali night.

It signifies the triumph of virtue over vice, of good over evil, of light over darkness and of knowledge over ignorance. Lighting lamps, candles or diyas and the bursting of crackers during Diwali is also geared towards this destruction of all-evil. The festival marks the victory of good over evil. The Sanskrit word Deepavali means array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. As the knowledge of Sanskrit diminished, the name was popularly modified to Diwali, especially in northern India.

Regional Significance Of Diwali

In Bengal, Goddess Kali or Durga, the goddess of strength, is worshipped. This reverence is called "Kali Chaturdashi". Strength is a positive attribute for one to have but it must be used to protect others from harm and used only in good and pure deeds. Also during Diwali, the goddess of wealth, Lord Lakshmi is worshipped. This practice is called "Dhanteras". It is believed that he or she who worships Lord Lakshmi during Diwali is bestowed wealth and prosperity.

The day of Dipavali has special significance for the business community as they consider this day to be the perfect time to begin their new financial year. Some people also indulge in gambling on the day of Diwali because it is a believed that wife of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati played dice with Him on this day and therefore those, who gamble on this auspicious day, are blessed with prosperity.

Historically, the origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali. Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen yearlong exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers.

In fact so diverse are the rituals and traditions of Diwali in different parts of the country that it is impossible to pin down just one way of celebrating this wonderful festival.