Diwali - The Festival of Lights

Many of us still assume that this auspicious Diwali is celebrated because in this day, Prabhu ShriRam killed Ravan and returned back to his home, Ayodha. 

This is true but there are many more things which we need to know :

Diwali (also called as Divali, Deepavali or the "Festival of lights") is a five-day Hindu Festival

The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of Deepavali ("row of lamps"). 

Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakhsmi feel welcome.

Fire-Crackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away Evil-Spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.

The festival starts with Dhanteras on which most Indian business communities begin their financial year.

The second day of the festival is called the Naraka Chaturdasi. 

Amavasya,the third day of Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi the goddess of wealth. 

The fourth day of Diwali is known as Kartika Shudda Padyami. 

The fifth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya, and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.

For Sikhs, Diwali is particularly important because it celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619.

Arya Samajists celebrate this day as Death Anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. They also celebrate this day as Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti.

For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.

While Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning behind it is "the awareness of the inner light".

It is believed that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. 

The celebration of Diwali as the "victory of good over evil", refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging 

While the story behind Diwali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman).