DEEPAVALI- THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT

From the time of Vatsyayana ( before A.D. 400 ),
Deepavali or Diwali has been a festival
of national importance throughtout the country
and of a universal nature in which
one and all participate.
" With its illumination and fireworks,
it lightens the mood of the people
and prepares them to face the new year
with a joyous heart," says Prof. P.K.Gode.
Each part of the country has its own story
that accounts for its celebration.
In the South,the legend of Narakasura brings out 
"a decisive conquest of the
challenging Darkness and Ignorance
by the Liberating Power which results in the
release and flodding of the Concealed Light.
" In Maharashtra, the worship of Mahalakshmi,
or the Goddess of Wealth,
who is also the patron deity of Kolhapur,is very popular.
Vatsyayana refers to "Yaksharatri",
a festival falling on the New Moon Day of Krithika..
It was also known as "Sukharatri".
People generally gamble during this night.
"The day following this night is called "DYUTAPRATITAM",
which is the first day of the Indian Calender
of the Vikrama Era," says Mr. T.N.Ray.
In the Eastern India, specially in Bengal,
this festival is celebrated as Kali Puja.
The Durga-Kali-Jagadhatri festivals of Bengal
represent the traditional concepts of
Srishti-Sthithi-Pralaya (Creation- Destruction-Maintainance).
In Rajasthan, particularly at Kota,
Diwali is celebrated as  "DARUCHI LANKA"
which corresponds to the Ramlila celebration during Dassera.
It is believed that Rama killed Ravana on this day
and was returning to Ayodhya in Pushpaka Vimana
with his wife, brother and friends.
By lighting rows of lamps, people celebrated
his return by lighting up his pathway
with rows and rows of lamps. 
Albiruni gives a detailed account of Diwali
in his Tahkik-i-hind. According to him,
the festival is celebrated because people believe
that Bali was liberated by Lakshmi.
People in South celebrate Diwali as the killing
of the TITAN of hell, known as Narakasura.
The story appears in the Mahabaratha( Sabha Parwa ).
Narakasura was the son of Lord Varaha and Mother Earth.
He was the king of Pragjyotishpura.
By virtue of his tapas,he became so powerful
and was menacing threat to the Gods,
sages and all men of piety.
He had a special boon that he could be killed
only by his mother.
Sathyabhama, the wife of Krisna was an avtar of Mother Earth.
When Lord Krishna heard of the atrocities
committed by Narakasura, He rushed to the
fort of Narakasura with Sathyabhama.
Narakasura lived in the heart of a great fort
specially built by the five-headed monster, MURA..
The fort was surrounded by a circle of deep water,
a circle of fire and a circle of storms.
It was so well-protected that no man,
animal or bird could go inside.
Even if anyone entered,the sleeping Mura
would get up and fight.
In this high security fort,
Narakasura had kept as prisoners
sixteen thousnd daughters of the Gods,
Gandharvas and others.
He had carried away the daughter of Twastu,
the divine archtict and had robbed Adithi,
the mother of Gods, off her ornamental ear-rings.
Krishna killed Mura and with the help of Sathyabhama,
killed Narakasura too.
The killing was done early in the morning
of Naraka Chadurdasi, the 14 th day of
the dark fortnight in Krithika.
The Gods were so happy that they celebrated
the occasion with all pomp and glory.
Krishna and Sathyabhama were given
a ceremonial oil-bath in warm water.
They were fed with all the best sweets
and the occasion was celebrated with fire-works
and exchanging pleasentaries with each other.
This is what is repeated every year by
the people of Tamilnadu on Diwali-taking a symbolic
" Ganga Snanam "early in the morning,
and adorning new clothes, exchanging sweets
and cracking fire-works .
Saint Jnaneswar in his work  "Jnaneswari" (A.D. 1290)
compares the illumination of Diwali to the
light of spiritual Knowledge.
Narakasura, born of Earth represents
the dark force of Ignorance that imprisons
the Light and Knowledge.
Mura represents our Ego lurking in our well-guarded bosoms.
One thing is very clear from the various stories being told
in different parts of the country
and that is - whether it is Krishna and Sathyabhama
killing Narakasura, or Kaali killing Raktha bija,
Chanda or Munda,
or Rama killing the ten-headed monster,Ravana,
the message flashed out by the leaping flames
is the same -the victory of Righteousness over Adharma,
the victory of Knowledge over Ignorance.