One of the most popular Hindu festivals, Diwali is celebrated in the month of Kartika (between mid October and mid November). It gets its name from the Sanskrit word Deepawali which means rows of lights. Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Among the Hindus, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped on this day. The day of Diwali is also celebrated with fervor by the Sikhs and the Jains.
There are various legends behind the celebration of Diwali. Let’s explore some of these:
⦁ The most popular legend is that from the Hindu epic, Ramayana. According to it, Diwali marks the day Rama, Sita and Lakshmana return to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile.
⦁ Exiled by his own father King Dasharatha, Rama, his wife Sita and his brother, Laxmana, face various hardships as they travel through the forests.
⦁ In exile, Sita is kidnapped by the powerful demon king Ravana.
⦁ Jatayu the divine bird valiantly tries to fight off Ravana, but the powerful Ravana mercilessly clips his wings. He takes Sita across the sea to his kingdom of Lanka.
⦁ Rama, with the help of Sugriva, the king of the Vanaras, and his trusted general Hanuman make a bridge of stones over the sea to reach Lanka. The stones are blessed with buoyancy, so they do not sink.
⦁ In the fight of good over evil, Rama slays Ravana, and rescues Sita.
⦁ Victorious, they return to Ayodhya. To welcome them, the people of Ayodhya clean their houses and place oil lamps to light their path. The ritual of lighting oil lamps is an integral part of Diwali celebrations to this day.
⦁ Amongst the many other legends associated with Diwali is yet another story of exile. Only this time, it is about the Pandava brothers and can be found in the Hindu epic of Mahabharata. The five Pandava brothers lose all their possessions in a deceitful game of dice against the cunning Kauravas.
⦁ After years of innumerable hardships, the brothers and their wife Draupadi return back to their kingdom on the dark moonless night of Kartika Amavasya. Their loyal subjects, overjoyed at their return, light numerous earthen lamps to welcome them.
⦁ A major festival for the Sikhs, the day of Diwali is celebrated as Bandi Chorh Diwas (Day of Liberation), marking the day that the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib and 52 other prisoners were released from captivity.
⦁ Historic accounts note that emperor Jahangir released Guru Hargobind Sahib whom he had imprisoned for years. The Guru however declared that he would not leave unless the 52 other princes imprisoned with him would be released too. The emperor said that only those who could hold on to the Guru’s cloak would be allowed to leave prison.
⦁ Guru Hargobind Sahib had a cloak made with 52 pieces of strings so that each prince was able to walk out of prison along with the Guru.
⦁ The Guru’s liberation was celebrated with lighting of lamps, a tradition that continues to this day.
