History of Diwali

 

Diwali is celebrated all over India by all of its communities with such a jubilation that the darkest night of Amavasya looks like the night of Sharad Purnima..Diwali every year falls or celebrated on Kartik Amavasya. This festival is not a single day show. It starts two days in advance and remains celebrated even after two days .In this way it great carnival of continuous five days. We will make you aware about all the old rituals, traditions performed during these five days along with the reasons behind. Diwali is celebrated on Kartik amavasya. For your knowledge we would like to add here that the Kartik is the 8th month of a Hindu celender. It usually comes in Novermber or October . And amavasya is the 30th date of a month in a Hindu celender. On the Amavasya night the moon totally disappears from the sky and it remains to be a moonless night . But Diwali lights make this darkest night so lightfull that is seems more beautifull than a full moon night You might be having a question in your mind as to why on this particular day Diwali is celebrated .So many reasons are there behind it. We will take you up in the sequence of time. First of all we will let you know about the oldest reason. The reason is told to be based on the Pouranik katha. Pourans are the oldest religious leturature books of Hindu religion. These are eighteen in counting. As per the said Pouranik story.

 

Diwali History in Pouran

Once there was a king named Bali. He was though a demon but still was very influential and his increasing power posed a great threat to the gods and goddesses of heaven. Thus one day all the deities of heaven went to Lord Vishnu and requested for help. The king Bali was also known for his charity .Who so ever demanded anything from the king he fulfilled his demand without any hesitation. Taking advantage of his said sence of charity Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of Vamana (dwarf) and bagged for a piece of land just equal to three steps measurement. As king Bali was very much famous for his philanthropy he readily agreed to the request made by the dwarf. At this Lord Vishnu came into his real from and started to measure the land with his steps. In the first step he measured the heaven in the second step he measured the whole earth and the third step Lord Vishnu put on the head of King Bali and resultantly King Bali went to underground . But at the same time Lord Vishnu was so much impressed with the King Bali's action that he asked the King to demand something.King Bali requested Lord Vishnu that he be given such a blessing in the welfare of mankind that who so ever will lit lamps on these three days will never feel the scarcity of money. The godess of wealth will remain with him always. And the persons who will lit lanps on the day of Chaturdashi will never be tourtures by the god of death---Yam. Lord Vishnu agreed to accept his request and since then the tradition of Deepdaan came into existence.

 

In the sequence of time second known story about the Diwali celebrations is also related to King Bali. The Lord Vishnu told to be so much impressed with the character of King Bali that he agreed to be the Dwarpaal-gateman of King Bali. Lord Vishnu in order to memorize king Bali's generousity decided to celebrate three days continuous day and night celebrations. And the said three days celebration is being celebrated till today as diwali.

 

Third concept in the same story is that after measuring heaven in first and earth in second lord Vishnu asked King Bali as to where he put his third step. King Bali told Lord Vishnu to keep third step on his head and resultantly Vishnu put his next step on the head of King bali went to underground. Being pleased by the dedication of King Bali Lord Vishnu blessed him with the lamp of light. And since then once in a year on this particular day Diwali King nail comes to earth for lighting other lamps of knowledge.

 

Diwali History in Treta Yug

Now we come to the Treta Yug legend of Diwali. There are four spans of time as per Hindu mythology . First was Satyug, second Dwaper, third Treta and fourth Kalyug. We are now living in Kalyug. And the story we are going to ddiscuss is of treat Yug when Vishnu was in carnation of Rama as king of Ayodhya. Lord Rama was exiled by his stepmother Kaikayee for fourteen years where he killed devil Ravna in battle and returned to his kingdom on this very day. The residents of Ayodhya welcomed lord Rama by liting lamps. The life story of lord Rama is perform ed on stages as Ram Leela all over the country and even by the Indians living abroad.