Diwali’s history can be traced back to ancient India, with several legends associated with it.

1. The return of Lord Ram.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, celebrates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. It signifies the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. The story, as per the epic Ramayana, depicts Rama’s 14-year exile, his rescue of his wife Sita, and his victorious return. Ayodhya welcomed him with joy, lighting countless lamps to dispel the night and symbolize his homecoming. Diwali, the festival of lights, has since been celebrated by Hindus to commemorate this joyous moment and reinforce the importance of virtue and goodness in life.

2. Goddess Lakshmi’s birth and her wedding with Lord Vishnu on this day.

The gods, led by Indra, were often in need of divine blessings to maintain their power and prosperity. One day, a wise sage approached Indra and offered him a garland of sacred flowers. However, in his arrogance, Indra tossed the garland to the ground, disregarding the sage’s offering.
This greatly upset Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. In response, she entered into the Milky Ocean, depriving the gods of her blessings.
Without Lakshmi’s presence, the gods began to lose their power, and the world grew darker. People became greedy, and offerings to the gods dwindled. As a result, the demons seized control of the celestial realms.
Vishnu advised Indra and the other gods that they would need to churn the Milky Ocean to regain Lakshmi’s blessings and other invaluable treasures, including the elixir of life, that would aid them in their struggle.
So, the gods and demons agreed to work together to churn the ocean. They used Mount Mandara as the churning rod and Vasuki, the serpent, as the rope.
After a thousand years of relentless patience and effort, amidst the rising treasures from the Milky Ocean, was the beautiful Lakshmi who stood on a lotus flower. She had returned to the world with her blessings of wealth and fortune.
With Lakshmi’s presence and blessings, the gods regained their strength and defeated the demons, restoring peace and prosperity to the celestial realms. This story emphasizes the importance of hard work, patience, and humility in the pursuit of success. It also warns against arrogance and complacency, as success can be fleeting when taken for granted.

3. Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura.

Narakasura was a powerful demon king who was the son of Hiranyakashipu and the earth goddess Bhumi Devi. He was a cruel and tyrannical ruler who had conquered the three worlds of heaven, earth, and the underworld. He had also stolen the earrings of Aditi, the mother of the gods, and imprisoned her along with 16,000 princesses.
The devas, who were unable to defeat Narakasura on their own, appealed to Lord Krishna for help. Krishna agreed to help them and set out to battle Narakasura on the day of Kartik Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik.
Krishna was accompanied by his wife Satyabhama (incarnation of BhumiDevi), who was also a skilled warrior. The battle was fierce and long, but in the end, Krishna emerged victorious.
Narakasura had a boon that he could only be killed by a woman who had given birth to him. Knowing this, Krishna pretended to swoon. Satyabhama was enraged and attacked Narakasura, killing him with her arrows. Krishna also saved the captured women.

During the festival of Diwali, we must resolve to end the darkness within our lives and fill it with love and light. Whether it is changing your lifestyle into a healthier one or becoming the best version of yourself, this is an auspicious occasion to start on these life changes.

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