The word "Diwali" in Hindi originates from the combination of "dīpā" meaning 'lamp' and "vali" meaning 'row,' derived from the Sanskrit term "dīpāvali," which translates to 'row of lights.' It is a festival of light that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm throughout India, with people cleaning and decorating their homes to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi and bestow prosperity. Rangolis, candles, diyas, and wire lights, among other decorations, are used to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness. People dress up in new costumes, exchange gifts with family and friends, and let off various sorts of fireworks. The objective of lighting fireworks is to scare off evil spirits with the sounds of the crackers and to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Why is Diwali celebrated?

The majority of people who celebrate Diwali are Hindus, as the holiday has significant Hindu mythological meaning. But the festival is open to everyone and is not restricted to any one group of people. Over the course of the five days of the celebration, each day has its own ceremony, story and significance. There are numerous myths about the origins of Diwali, despite the fact that the festival is actually celebrated to symbolise the triumph of virtue over evil and light over darkness.

Legend 1. Return of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana:

This legend is the most widespread origin of Diwali, told through the Ramayana (one of the longest ancient Hindu epics).

The righteous and noble Prince Rama, along with his faithful brother Lakshmana and wife Sita, were banished from the ancient kingdom of Ayodhya for a period of 14 years by King Dasharatha. Their exile was marked by a number of hardships. As fate would have it, the demon king Ravana kidnapped Lord Rama's adored wife Sita, sparking a mission to find her. In order to save her, Rama set out on a treacherous expedition towards Ravana's kingdom in Lanka (now Sri Lanka) with the help of his faithful brother Lakshmana, the devout monkey deity Hanuman, and an army of monkeys, creating Rama Setu. He fought Ravana valiantly with the aid of Hanuman and the crowd of loyal monkeys. Rama defeated Ravana in a bloody battle and saved Sita.

The demon king was defeated by Rama in the pivotal battle, signifying the triumph of good over evil. A row of earthen lamps lit the path as Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana made their way back to Ayodhya. With great joy, the people of Ayodhya welcomed back their rightful heirs and illuminated the kingdom with innumerable lamps to chase away the darkness that had enveloped it during Rama's banishment.

The tradition of the Diwali festival, which is celebrated with lamps, fireworks, and a spirit of triumph, symbolising the enduring victory of righteousness, began with this radiant homecoming and the victory of light over darkness.

Legend 2. Return of Pandavas and Draupadi:

The longest epic in history, the Mahabharata, is the source of another well-known but not as popular legend. Even though the Mahabharata doesn't specifically explain when Diwali began, it is linked to another important story in the epic—the Pandavas' return from exile, along with their wife Draupadi. The Pandavas finished their exile after twelve years in the forest and a year in hiding.

The Pandavas came out of hiding on the day of Kartik Amavasya, which is the new moon day in the month of Kartik, and lit oil lamps to drive away the darkness that had enveloped them during their years of banishment. Overjoyed by the Pandavas' return, the people of Hastinapura lavishly celebrated the event by lighting up their city with lamps.

One of the historical occurrences connected to the Diwali celebration is the symbolic lighting of lamps. The connection between Diwali and the Pandavas' return, even though the Mahabharata doesn't specifically explain how the festival came to be, gives the celebration a deeper cultural and historical significance.

Legend 3. Victory of Goddess Satyabhama and Lord Krishna:

As the demonic Asura Naraka terrorised and decimated the populace in the holy town of Dwaraka, darkness descended upon the region. The people prayed to Lord Krishna for help because they were unable to endure the pain. Motivated by their request, Krishna ascended to bring about harmony by embodying compassion.

The worlds echoed with the sound of Krishna and the powerful Naraka engaged in combat beneath the glittering night sky. The day that Krishna attempted to kill the Asura Narakasura, however, he was unable to do so for some reason. As a result, Narakasura was killed by Satyabhama, a Hindu goddess and the third queen-consort of Lord Krishna. She was able to free the world from Narakasura's terrors while fulfilling Brahma's blessing as a boon because she was an incarnation of Bhudevi and hence his mother.

Dwaraka saw peace after Lord Krishna and Goddess Satyabhama defeated Naraka with heavenly strength and righteousness. This victory represented the victory of light over darkness and gave rise to the glorious festival of Diwali, which celebrates the triumph of righteousness over evil and its eternal survival.

This legend has multiple plots and may vary. Krishna is credited by some for killing Naraka, Sathyabama by others, and Goddess Kali by still others.

Legend 4. Unification of Lord Vishu and Goddess Lakshmi

There once lived a kind and moral demon king by the name of Bali during the Satyug (Golden Age) period. Even though he was a devout man, he still wanted to rule the skies. The universe's protector, Lord Vishnu, took on the form of the dwarf Brahmin Vamana in order to defeat King Bali. Vishnu's mission was to bring the world back into harmony and defend it from Bali's despotism. Known for his generosity, Vamana approached Bali during a grand yajna (sacrificial ritual).

Tiny Brahmin that he was, Vamana asked King Bali for three paces of land. Bali granted the request because he was amused by it, even though his guru Shukracharya had warned him against it. Vamana changed into a giant and covered the entire universe in two steps, surprising everyone. Bali now offered his own head, having nowhere left for the third step. Bali was driven into the underworld as a result. Lord Vishnu bestowed a boon upon Bali, moved by his humility and selflessness. Bali asked Lord Vishnu to live in his kingdom with him. In the netherworld (Patala), Vishnu graciously consented to serve as Bali's doorkeeper.

Goddess Lakshmi came up with a scheme because she could not bear to be parted from her consort. She came to Bali's kingdom on the day of Kartik Amavasya, disguised as a Brahmin woman, and took refuge. Recognising her divine aura, Bali greeted her warmly and asked to see Lord Vishnu again. Lord Vishnu was reunited with Goddess Lakshmi on the night of Diwali, when Bali lit lamps to direct Lord Vishnu's path. Bali was so devoted that Vishnu gave him a boon that allowed him to visit Earth and his kingdom once a year. The people decorated their homes with lights and lit oil lamps along the path to commemorate their return. Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of wealth and prosperity, blessed the devotees, marking the celebration of Diwali.

Diwali, a festival celebrating this return home with the blessings of Vishnu and Lakshmi, represents the triumph of devotion and the reappearance of prosperity.

In conclusion, there are several Hindu myths surrounding the origins of the Diwali celebration, which vary depending on the location. The four regions of India—the East, West, North, and South—all celebrate the same culture, though their customs may vary. Diwali is highly regarded as an extremely auspicious occasion for prosperity, be it regarding health, wealth or universal brotherhood. The real purpose of celebrating Diwali is to receive blessings from divine gods and goddesses and to commemorate the victory of good over evil, despite the differences and contradictions in the legends.