The festival of lights, Diwali is popularly celebrated for the homecoming of Lord Ram after fourteen years of exile. It is also associated with harvest festivals of ancient India.

The proof of this has been found in ancient texts like the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana, both of which have been found in the first half of the 1st millennium CE. 

The lighting of diyas has specifically been mentioned in Skanda Purana. The diya symbolizes the sun, giving all energy of life and seasonally transitions in the Hindu calendar month of Kartik.

Another similar reason was stated by the Persian traveller and historian Al Biruni who described Diwali to be a celebration of the New Moon in the month of Kartika. 

On the other hand, in the 7th century Sanskrit play Nagananda has King Harsha referring to Diwali as Deepapratipadutsava (deepa = light, pratipada = first day, utsava = festival) in which lamps were lighted and newly engaged brides and grooms received gifts. 

Rajasekhara referred to it as Dipamalika in his 9th century Kavyamimamsa. He mentions the tradition of homes being whitewashed and oil lamps decorated at homes, streets and markets. The same is also spoken about by the 15th-century Venetian merchant and traveller Nico de’ Conti and the 16th-century Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes. The tradition continues even to this day.

Diwali is a five-day long tradition which begins with Dhanteras on day 1, Naraka Chaturdasi on day 2, Diwali and Lakshmi puja on day 3, Govardhan puja on day 4 and Bhai dooj on day 5. The offerings are made to various gods and goddesses in different parts of the country. Northern India prays to Goddess Lakshmi on this day, Bengal to Goddess Kali, southern India and parts of Assam to Lord Krishna, and western states like Gujarat to Lord Ganesha.

Besides being celebrated as a festival for Hindus, other religions too observe Diwali with their own religious significances. Jainism sees Diwali as the physical death and final nirvana of Mahavira. Sikhism celebrates it as Bandi Chhor Divas when their third Guru, Guru Hargobind, was released from Mughal prison, and also for the foundation of the city of Amritsar in 1577. 

Buddhists generally do not celebrate Diwali, except for the Newar people of Nepal who worship various deities in the Vajrayana Buddhism and also pray to Goddess Lakshmi.

And of course, there is the mythological legend of Ramayana where on the day of Diwali Rama, Sita, Laxmana and Hanuman reached Ayodhya after a period of exile and after defeating Ravana’s army of evil.

With the history revised, we hope you have a happy and safe Diwali ahead! Spread love with diyas, and not pollution with crackers.