This question is not an easy one; it is quite challenging. The exact reason for celebrating Diwali remains unclear, and the festival has been linked to three different beliefs: the first associated with Lord Shri Ram, the second with Goddess Lakshmi, and the third with Gautam Buddha. Let’s explore these beliefs, which require us to delve into ancient times.
Diwali is celebrated on the birth of Goddess Lakshmi
According to many mythological stories, Diwali is celebrated on the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan). Even today, on the night of Diwali, people primarily worship Goddess Lakshmi instead of Lord Shri Ram. This tradition continues, and on Diwali, the worship of both Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi is customary.
Diwali is celebrated upon Gautam Buddha’s return to Kapilavastu
Another belief suggests that on the new moon day (Amavasya) of the Kartik month, Gautam Buddha returned to his kingdom of Kapilavastu after attaining enlightenment. To celebrate his return, people lit numerous lamps to welcome him. Later, Emperor Ashoka decided to promote the teachings of Gautam Buddha’s 84,000 principles. The pillars built by Ashoka in honor of Gautam Buddha are still known today. One of these pillars, located in Bihar, was decorated with numerous lamps, symbolizing the adherence to Gautam Buddha’s teachings. This act was later termed “Deepdan” (donation of light or knowledge), thus connecting Diwali to Gautam Buddha.
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Diwali is celebrated upon Lord Shri Ram’s return to Ayodhya
Another belief links the celebration of Diwali to Lord Shri Ram. It is said that the festival marks the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and defeating Ravana, the king of Lanka. According to the Ramcharitmanas, Lord Ram returned home on this day. If Lord Ram had not returned to Ayodhya on the same day as Ravana’s defeat, Bharat would have sacrificed his life.
The dates for Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya and the celebration of Dussehra differ. Dussehra marks the day Ravana was defeated, while Diwali is celebrated 20 days later. People believe that Diwali began when the residents of Ayodhya lit lamps to welcome Lord Ram, and this tradition continues every year, giving the festival its name.
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Why is Diwali celebrated?
The definitive reason for celebrating Diwali remains uncertain. Three main beliefs are associated with the festival:
- Gautam Buddha
- Lord Shri Ram
- Goddess Lakshmi
Among these, the exact origin is still debated. Some sages and scholars suggest that the festival began when Goddess Lakshmi was born during the churning of the ocean. For this reason, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Diwali.
