Deepavali

Illumination is a sign of victory, of triumph over some foe or some impending obstacle to happy living. It is a way of expressing one’s joy. In various parts of this country, there are different versions, about the origin of this festival. In North India the story given is that it marks the triumphant return of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after their long period of exile and after the destruction of the Rakshasa race. In other parts of India, it is associated with the destruction of the demon called Narakasura by Shri Krishna and his consort Satyabhama. In some other regions, it is supposed to celebrate the incarnation of Vamana and the blessings He invoked on Bali, the demon king after subjugating his pride.

But the most prevalent and most significant of all is the one which is related to Narakasura and his downfall. His very name indicated that Narakasura was promoting the part of Naraka or Hell. All vices and sins were patronized by him. So even his own mother, the Earth, prayed to the Lord to annihilate him and his gang of wicked demons.

People wake up very early this day and light lamps all over their homes and all along the streets to indicate that the dark days of the demon are over. They take ceremonial baths, wear new clothes, dance around light crackers and flares and enjoy themselves.

Narakasura represents the down-dragging tendencies of man and Deepavali celebrates the conquest of man over them. His capital city had a name which reveals his fundamental fault Pragajhoti-Sha-pura, means the city where people are not aware of the primordial light, the splendour of the Atma. The citizens put their faith in the body and the senses, the ego, the passions, impulses and emotions that arise there from. Narakasura is the son of Mother Earth. All men are children of the same Mother and all have in them the down dragging pulls for which Narakasura suffered. The Narakasura story is thus a challenge and warning to all mankind.