Deepavali : Festival of lights

Deepavali or Diwali, the festival of lights has no religious boundary to celebrate it. Though it is a Hindu festival but nowadays, people of all the religions celebrate this festival. It has not merely remained a national festival of India but has also crossed all the physical boundaries of the country and spread far and wide globally wherever people of Indian origin have settled.

Little clay lamps are lit as an offering to God to ward off evil spirits and to usher prosperity. This is also to welcome the new year on the following day, when businessmen start their new account books. Families visit relatives and friends and exchange gifts and sweets. It is an auspicious day for new beginnings. This is a festival of brotherhood, peace and harmony too because people from all religions are celebrating Deepavali in India.

There are various origins attributed to this festival. Some part of India celebrates it as the marriage of Goddess Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. In Bengal, the festival is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Kali. In some parts it is also celebrated to commemorate the day on which Lord Rama returned to ayodhya with His wife Sita and brother Laxmana after defeating Demon King Ravana. This is the historical significance of the festival.