New Delhi: Diwali is known as the ‘Festival of Lights.’ Diwali illuminations with lighted diyas (lamps) bring supernatural brightness, joy and an hope of finding light in darkness, achieving knowledge where there is ignorance, and spreading love amid hatred.
Light is significant in Hinduism because it signifies purity, goodness, good luck and power. The existence of light means non-existence of darkness and evil forces. Since Diwali is celebrated on the new moon day when there is absolute darkness everywhere, people light millions of lamps to get rid of the darkness.
Also it is believed that evil spirits and forces become active when there is no light. So lamps are lit in every corner of the house to weaken these evil forces.
The lights on Diwali night outside every door signify that the inner spiritual light of an individual must reflect outside too. It also conveys an important message of unity. One lamp is capable to light several other lamps without affecting its own light. Hence, lighting lamps during Diwali is spiritually as well as socially significant to all human beings.
Until a decade ago, most city households used to illuminate their houses with the warm, sparkling bright lights of earthen lamps. But now, in addition to these diyas, wax candles of various colours and forms and coloured electric bulbs of different shapes and sizes are illuminated soon after dusk.
Legend has it that it was on Diwali night that Hindu deity Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman. People lit lamps to celebrate the return of their king and thus, the tradition of lighting lamps on Diwali became prevalent.
Diwali dates back to ancient times in India, as a festival after the summer harvest in the Hindu calendar month of ‘Kartika.’ Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists to mark different historical events and stories, but they all symbolise the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.
Bursting crackers is not very old in India. Firework use has been documented in some texts written during British India. Historically, fireworks originated in China some 2,000 years ago. The most prevalent legend has it that fireworks were discovered or invented by accident by a Chinese cook working in a field kitchen who happened to mix charcoal, sulphur and saltpetre, all commonly found in the kitchen in those days.
