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Diwali: The Many Lights of India’s Living Civilization

  • Writer: Oddball Comics
    Oddball Comics
  • 3 hours ago
  • 4 min read

 

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Diwali is not just a historical or theological subject, but a living, felt experience for millions


Diwali, or Deepavali, the “festival of lights,” is a celebration symbolizing India’s civilizational spirit. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Ayodhya to Arunachal, the festival unites diverse regions in one luminous expression of faith, joy, and renewal.The word Deepavali derives from Sanskrit: dīpa (lamp) and āvali (row), meaning “a row of lamps.” Yet beyond the glittering lights lies an eternal message the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and righteousness over arrogance. As the Skanda Purāṇa beautifully declares:

“He who lights lamps in rows on Deepavali night becomes freed from all sins and attains the abode of light.”— Skanda Purāṇa, Kartika Mahatmya, 26.25

Each year, as lamps glow across India, I am reminded that Diwali is more than an ancient tradition. It is a living dialogue between the human and the divine, a time when faith takes the form of light.

Origins and Pan-Indian Essence

The celebration of Diwali is ancient, with early references in the Padma Purāṇa and Skanda Purāṇa describing Deepotsava in the month of Kartik. Archaeological traces suggest that lamp-lighting rituals existed even in pre-Mauryan times, symbolizing fertility and the triumph of life over darkness. Through centuries, this act of lighting lamps came to embody the spiritual victory of Dharma, spreading across regions and faiths as a shared cultural rhythm of India.

The Radiance of Rama’s Return

The most enduring legend of Diwali shines through the Ramayana: the joyous homecoming of Shri Ram, Sita, and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after the fall of Ravana. The people lit lamps in every home to celebrate the return of Dharma and the end of exile. That Deepmala, the garland of lights, became the symbolic heart of Deepavali.As the Ramayana travelled across Asia, from Valmiki to Kamban, and from Java to Laos, Rama’s triumph continued to inspire generations, transforming Diwali into a festival of universal moral victory and divine joy.

Lakshmi and Ganesha – The Harmony of Wealth and Wisdom

According to the Vishnu and Padma Purāṇas, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the cosmic ocean during the Samudra Manthan on the dark new moon night of Kartika, the very night of Diwali. Her arrival marked the dawn of auspiciousness. Worshipped with Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, their union reflects the harmony of artha (prosperity) and buddhi (wisdom).As the Skanda Purāṇa notes, no auspicious act begins without invoking Ganesha. Together, Lakshmi and Ganesha embody the Hindu ideal that prosperity without wisdom leads to arrogance, while wisdom without resources remains incomplete.

The Five Days of Diwali

Dhanteras marks the beginning, welcoming Dhanvantari, the divine healer who emerged with amrita (nectar) during Samudra Manthan. The day is devoted to health, wealth, and new beginnings.Naraka Chaturdashi commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, aided by Satyabhama, symbolizing the destruction of arrogance and evil. In Goa, effigies of Narakasura are still burned, recalling the purging of darkness before dawn.Lakshmi Puja, the main night of Diwali, fills homes with light and devotion. In Bengal, it is celebrated as Kali Puja, invoking the fierce Mother who annihilates ignorance.Govardhan Puja or Annakut honors Krishna’s lifting of Mount Govardhan, teaching reverence for nature and humility over pride.Bhai Dooj concludes the festival, celebrating the sacred bond of siblings, rooted in the legend of Yama and his sister Yami, symbolizing affection and protection.

Diwali Beyond Hinduism

For Sikhs, Diwali coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, when Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji secured the release of 52 imprisoned kings from Mughal captivity. The illuminated Golden Temple remains a glowing reminder of freedom and compassion.For Jains, Diwali marks Lord Mahavira’s nirvana, the soul’s liberation from bondage, celebrated with lamps symbolizing enlightenment.Among Nepal’s Newar Buddhists, Tihar or Swanti overlaps with Diwali, blending Buddhist and Vedic traditions of light, gratitude, and harmony.

Philosophical Significance

At its core, Diwali is not only about the illumination of homes but also the awakening of the soul. The rows of lamps (deepāvali) symbolize the rekindling of the ātman after dispelling the darkness of avidyā (ignorance). As the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad prays:

“From darkness, lead me to light; from the unreal, lead me to the real; from death, lead me to immortality.”— Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, 1.3.28

Each lamp becomes a silent invocation, an offering of light within and peace without.

Conclusion

Across India’s sacred geography, from Ayodhya’s ramparts to Kashi’s ghats, from Bengal’s courtyards to Tamil Nadu’s temples, Diwali endures as a festival of light, faith, and hope.It celebrates not only the victories of gods and heroes but also the living flame of Sanātana Dharma that continues to illumine India’s soul. In every flicker of light, one sees the memory of Rama’s return, Krishna’s compassion, Mahavira’s liberation, and the Guru’s freedom, a timeless dialogue between darkness and dawn, between the divine and the human.

Wishing everyone a blessed and joyous Diwali … may the light of Dharma guide us all.


– Dr. Vinay Nalwa

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