WHY WE CELEBRATE DIWALI /DEEPAVALI
Diwali, a festival of Hindus, is celebrated annually all over the world. Diwali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights, is observed in Amavasya (or new moon day) of the Kartik month, which falls this year 2023 on November 12.
From Ramayan
- It is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Rama over the evil king Ravana and his return to Ayodhya after an exile of 14 years. When Rama was sentenced to an exile of 14 years, his wife Sita and brother Laxman had also left with him from their kingdom Ayodhya to complete the sentence. During the exile, Sita was abducted by Ravana, the evil king. Lord Rama fought a war with Ravana to free Sita from his clutches and eventually Ravana was killed in the war. Post this the trio returned to their kingdom Ayodhya, which was celebrated by the people by lighting up earthen lamps and decorating the entire kingdom to welcome their Princes and Princess. It is believed that from then on the festival of Diwali began to be celebrated. The readers must know that within two years of stay at Ayodhya, pregnant Devi Sita who had passed “fire test” was exiled for life to forest upon a washerman’s remarks. The citizens of Ayodhya never celebrated Diwali after two years of celebration as Devi Sita was exiled.
- From mahabharat
- Another folklore that surrounds the Diwali celebration comes from the time of Mahabharata. After losing a dice game with Kauravas, the Pandavas were sentenced to an exile of 13 years. After serving the exile when they returned to their birthplace Hastinapur on the new moon day of the Kartik month, the people there celebrated their return and illuminated earthen lamps everywhere and decorated their kingdom.
- Jainism
- For followers of Jainism, Diwali “marks the nirvana or spiritual awakening of the spiritual leader Mahavira in 527 BCE,”
- Sikhism
- Sikhs celebrate Diwali with a completely different reason and philosophy. The Sikhs mark Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas, also known as ‘The Celebration of Freedom’, which commemorates the release of the sixth Sikh guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Ji from prison in 1619 CE.

Good information
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