The biggest Indian Festival: Diwali a look back at the history

Diwali is a festival that always comes in the month of Karthik as per the lunar cycles, on the thirteenth day which is known as Thrayodashi. The thirteenth day of the Karthik month is the festival. Traditionally, the science behind this is, on this day everybody worships the Deepawali day. Everyone is supposed to worship Dhanvantri, the deity dedicated to one’s health and well-being. Today the term Dhanvantri has become almost synonymous with the word doctor.

the winter months, what you should do with yourself, what time you should wake up, what you should eat, how your food habits should change, and how your practices should change. For all this, traditionally they created science as to how one should behave, so as to pass through winter months without getting depressed and without losing your senses. The lighting of lamps and bursting of crackers is a part of science so that you don’t slip into a slowdown.

Dhanvantri or the deity Dhanvantri is supposed to be the source of Ayurveda, the science of long and healthy lives. All of this, about Dhanvantri and Thrayodashi, has been modified over the years in the way it is pronounced and is known as Dhantera. What was about health became about wealth. Dhan means money, and now everybody thinks that Diwali is all about money. For those of us who live in the northern part of India, things change from this day onwards. In a way, there is a slowdown of life. So, for

The significance of the festival has largely been ignored but still, people are singing and burning crackers.

Mythology of Diwali

This festival has been celebrated for ages, and there are multiple stories behind its origin. While in northern India this festival is associated with Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, in the south this festival marks the history of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu.

The most common tale that is prevalent in northern India is associated with the arrival of Rama, Lakshman, and Sita to Ayodhya from their 14 yearlong exiles. Upon winning the battle against Ravana and his Lanka to free his wife from abduction, ram coronated Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana as the king of Lanka. With very few days left to completion of the exile, Rama was restless to head back to Ayodhya.

When ram, Lakshman, and Sita arrived in Ayodhya, the people of Ayodhya lit millions of lights and earthen lamps across the city to welcome their beloved king Rama. Thus, lighting a Diya or a lamp has been a long traditional way to celebrate Diwali by Hindus.

In southern India, Diwali is celebrated to mark the victory of lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura. Bhoomi Devi (mother earth) had a son named Naraka. Even though Naraka was the son of a goddess, his true nature was that of a demon. Naraka was powerful and the thing that pleased him was terrorizing the inhabitants of the three worlds. Narakasura would cause havoc in the kingdoms of the three worlds. Narakasura once heard that Indra, the king of the devas, had thousands of elephants in his army. Narakasura, thinking like the greedy soul he was, wanted to possess everything and attacked the heavens. Indra was helpless as he watched Narakasura plunder the sky. Naraka himself began the pursuit of the devas. While pursuing the devas, a shiny object caught his eye. Upon inspection, he realized that the glimmering object was Aditi, the mother of the devas. He then tried to assault Mother Aditi as well.

Now Indra, feeling humiliated at his loss and even worse that his mother was assaulted, wanted revenge. He knew that there was only one person who would be able to defeat Naraka, it was Krishna. Indra reached Krishna’s palace when he was spending quality time with his wife Satyabhama. He told Krishna about everything that took place and begged him for his help. Krishna was enraged after hearing everything and said that Naraka had to die for what he had done. Narakasura was killed very easily in a battle with Krishna.

Not only Hindus but sections of other religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism use Diwali to mark important events which were a part of their histories as well. In Jain tradition, Diwali is celebrated in observance of “Mahavira Nirvana Divas”. This day marks the physical death and the final nirvana of Mahavira. The Jain Diwali celebrated in many parts of India has similar practices to the Hindu Diwali, such as the lighting of lamps and offering prayers to goddess Lakshmi.

If we were to stay ignorant about our own culture, how do we expect others to accept and respect our culture? India is going through a major economic crisis, but people are still finding ways to strive in the chaos. Can we help them and buy diyas locally instead of shopping for them at the malls? Now that you know so much about this festival, and its importance scientifically as well as mythologically, we hope that you can enjoy the festival of lights to its full extent. Have a happy and safe Diwali.