Why do we celebrate Deepavali

India is an ancient land of glorious traditions and magnificent mythologies which over the centuries have not only have captured the imagination of young and old, but have also held great lessons and deeper significance in their practices. Deepavali or Diwali is the Festival of Lights and is celebrated with fervour and gaiety. The festival is celebrated to ward off the darkness and welcome the lights into our lives. It falls on the last two days of the dark half of Kartik (October-November). It commences with the Dhan-Teras, followed by the Narak Chathudas, and culminates with Deepavali.

In Hindu philosophy darkness is compared to ignorance and lighting the lamp has significance of driving away ignorance and gaining knowledge. Hindus begin their prayers and rituals by first lighting an oil lamp.

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