Diwali

Diwali

Diwali, Deepawali (Deepa meaning light), is the most popular festival in India and the most widely celebrated festival in Hinduism because of the simple meaning behind it. It is normally celebrated in October or November, depending on the Hindu Lunar Calendar. Diwali is the festival of lights with a legendary story behind it but it is also the New Year and the time for luck and prosperity.

This is one of the stories behind Diwali, the Ramayan.

Once, there was a king called Dashrat who ruled over the kingdom of Ayodhya. He had four sons from his three wives: Ram, Bharata, Lakshman and Shatrugna. when he was old, Dashrat wanted to crown Ram, his eldest, the successor to the throne. Bharata’s mother wanted her own son to be crowned so she used a boon that the king had granted her a few years before. She wanted King Dashrat to exile Ram for 14 years away from Ayodhya in a forest and she wanted him to crown her son, Bharata the next king.

Dashrat did this with a heavy heart and sent Rama away. He would later die from separation from his son and the guilt that came with agreeing with his most evil wife and sending away with eldest son. Ram’s brother, Lakshman, and his wife, Sita, came with him, symbolising faith, trust, solidarity, loyalty and love to Ram.

Bharata did not take the throne but acted as the king up until his eldest brother’s exile was completed.

While in exile, Sita was kidnapped by the evil demon Ravana and a great battle ensued as Ram tried to rescue her.

After the fourteen years, and also the battle to get Sita back, Ram returned to Ayodhya to reclaim his throne.

The people of Ayodhya, who had heard of his great valour and strength on the battlefield were so happy to get their new king back that they lit lamps to line the roadsides and light the way to the palace for their king. Ram was brave, courageous, righteous, loving and all in all, the perfect son, husband and brother. He was and still is a great inspiration for all Hindus as he fulfilled his dharma, his duty without complaint and upheld the honour of tradition and his parents.

Hindus celebrate this festival of light by cleaning the house; ready for New Year as it was the beginning of Ram’s new era. New clothes and gifts are bought for all family and friends and it is a time for reunion – everyone gets together for a grand party.

Hindus also light as many lamps as they can find so that they can put them into any safe nook and cranny they can find, lining their driveway, all the electric lights are switched on - even the oven and microwave – regardless of the waste of electricity, just for that day!

The reason for this is not only to “welcome” Ram home but also to invite the Goddess Laxmi into the house because she brings wealth and prosperity wherever she goes, as she is the Goddess of Wealth. New account books are written, student have a new start, old feuds are forgotten, it is a New Year!

Sources: Hindu Dharma (My GCSE Textbook)
My brain and stories and books that I have. Believe me I have researched some of this but most of this is from my bedtime stories