Diwali or Deepavali is a grand festival that is an integral part of the India’s vast cultural milieu. As with all Indian festivals, Diwali also has a spiritual significance. Known as the “festival of lights”, it is common to celebrate Diwali by lighting lamps and bursting crackers. There are many stories around Diwali in the popular culture. Indian festivals are consciously designed as an ingenious way of cultivating a spirit of togetherness and celebration in the larger society. Many traditions that are followed on this auspicious day have a deep-rooted spiritual significance.

In a true testament to unity in diversity, Diwali is celebrated quite differently across India. One thing that remains common is that every village, town and city is lit up with thousands of lamps everywhere. This lighting of lamps symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

Diwali always starts with a thorough cleaning and decoration of the home. This is also a time to make traditional rangolis. People visit each other, dress up resplendently, exchange gifts, conduct rituals and pujas and come together to enjoy feasts and burst firecrackers.

In northern India, Diwali is seen as a celebration of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after fourteen years in the forest. On this moonless night, people are said to have welcomed him home by lighting thousands of lamps in his honor.

In western parts of India, Diwali is considered the beginning of a new year and the central theme is worshipping Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

In eastern parts of the country, the day of Diwali is devoted to Kali and is celebrated as Kali Puja.

In southern India, Diwali is celebrated because on this day, Krishna slew the demon Narakasura. As most stories in the Yogic lore, this is also a dialectical way to communicate a significant aspect of the spiritual process to the masses through a culturally relevant expression. The word “Naraka” literally means “hell.” Krishna’s slaying of this hellish being symbolizes the innate ability in every human being to overcome negativity and rise to new possibilities.

Let the light of Diwali be the light that outshines the dark clouds. As goodness ultimately triumphs over evil, we humans too will be victorious in our battles.

On this occasion of Deepavali, let’s ensure to be by the side of good and promise to keep the true meaning of the festival, that is, knowledge will prevail over ignorance, and goodness will overcome evil, and purity will keep out impurity.