Deepavali or Diwali will be celebrated in November. In Sri Lanka it will be celebrated on November 4. It is also known as ‘The Festival of Lights’. In this article, Hiru Wanniarachchi showcases the history, rituals and traditions of Deepavali or Diwali.
Hinduism, one of the oldest religions in the world, originated in India at least 5,000 years ago. Hindus believe in one great power and it is Brahman, the supreme deity of all the worlds.
Death and rebirth
They also believe in the curve of death and rebirth. When we die, our soul lives in another person, animal or plant. The goal of the Hindus is to break that curve and live a good life that serves to become a part of the Brahman. 
The majority of the 733 million Hindus live in Asia. Hindus hold various festivals throughout the year in honour of the gods. These are Thai pongal, Diwali, Theru festival, Vel Festival and Mahashivarathri. Hindus also recite the Bhagavad Gita to commemorate the birth of Krishna on Janmastanmi and donate sweets.
The 'Festival of Lights' or Diwali is celebrated to commemorate Rama’s victory over his enemies. The word used today as Diwali is a derivation of the Sanskrit word Deepavali (meaning lamp chain.). There are various legends and important events associated with Diwali. Therefore, the poojas and chanting on this day are considered to be a hundred times more powerful than usual. Diwali or Deepavali (also known as Tihar and Swanthi in Nepal) is one of the leading holidays in India and Nepal. It is also a very important festival in the Hindu, Sikh and Jain religions.
Legends
Many legends have been built around the Deepavali festival. Today, it is celebrated around the world by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs as the ‘Festival of Lights’. Here the lamp symbolises the victory of good over evil in people. The festival is celebrated by the Buddhists of Nepal, especially, the Buddhists of Newar. According to a local legend, Deepavali has started as a harvest festival based on the final harvest before winter. In an agricultural society, this is like a businessman settling accounts for the year and starting a new accounting year.
Goddess Lakshmi
Therefore, the people thank Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and wish her a prosperous future. This is the normal process of all Hindus in the world.
In Northern India, this marks the return of King Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. The people of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama, greeted Rama by lighting a lamp.
Diwali falls in of October or November. This is celebrated in Jainism to commemorate the Nirvana of the ‘Great Hero’ which took place on October 15, 527 BC. The celebration of Diwali among the Sikhs had been going on continuously but this was another important reason why they considered Diwali important.
Hargobindji, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, was released from prison along with 52 other Hindu kings. They were political prisoners and he had worked to secure their release.
In India, Diwali is a national holiday. And in Sri Lanka it is a public holiday. According to the Hindus, the celebration of Diwali dates back many thousands of years. The festival lasts for five days.
Deepavali is truly an offering of light. The highlight of the festival is the lighting of lamps in the house as well as throughout the city. Deepavali is the lighting up of the big darkness. Thousands of lamps are lit in homes and villages as a symbol of spiritual enlightenment in human lives. The lamps also signify chasing away the bad in life and getting closer to the good.
A special feature of the Deepavali festival is that the Hindu devotes first clean the house thoroughly. It is believed that by keeping the house clean and tidy, the occupants of the house will be cleaner.
Virtues of patience
Deepavali is also an opportunity to meditate and practice the virtues of patience reflected in the life and vision of Lord Rama.
On this special day, Hindus share sweets especially prepared for Diwali with relatives, friends, and neighbours and and give alms to the poor on this day.
To celebrate Deepawali, devotees are encouraged to decorate their homes with new items and wear new clothes.
So, they make this a special day to start anew in life. On Diwali, Hindu devotees pray to Lord Rama and goddess Sita to bless them and help them face the difficulties of their lives. Let us lovingly join hands with our Hindu friends to celebrate this festival to add a new light to our lives as well.