Diwali, the Festival of Lights - signifying victory of good over evil and celebrating unity in diversity

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Diwali/Deepavali is a Sanskrit word which means path or array of lights and signifies the victory of good (light) over evil (darkness). Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Lights," where people light deyas (small clay pots filled with coconut oil and a cotton like string(wick)is inserted) to signify victory of good over the evil within an individual. Officially, it fell on Oct. 28 this year.

In India, a land of festivals,Diwali is celebrated with fervor and gaiety. The festival is celebrated by young and old, rich and poor, throughout the country to dispel darkness and light up their lives.

In South India, Deepavali is a time to mark Lord Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura. The other belief is that it is a time to honor King Bali, the generous demon king who was banished into the netherworld after obeying an order from Lord Vishnu. In Northern India, Diwali is a celebration of Lord Ram's return to his kingdom in Ayodhya after his 14-year forest exile and his victory over the demon Ravana, the King of Lanka, who abducted his wife Sita. The story goes that Ram landed in South India first before arriving a day later in North India - which is why the North celebrates it a day after the South.

For the business communities, it is the start of their financial year where the Lakshmi Pooja is done and new account books are opened.

What the festival signifies is the unity in diversity as every community and state celebrates it in its own special way.

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Photos courtesy of Munish Sharma / Reuters, Amit Dave/Reuters, Ajay Verma/Reuters, and Munish Sharma/Reuters

Original Source: ABC News, Times Online, Time, IndiaExpress, and AsiaOne News