The word "Diwali"is derived from the Sanskrit word "Deepavali", which is composed of two words - Deepa meaning Light and Avali meaning a Row. It means a row of lights and indeed illumination forms its main attraction. Diwali leads us into Truth and Light and is celebrated on Amavasya.
Diwali is one of the most popular festivals of India and of Hindus. Diwali celebrations one of the most eagerly awaited festivals in the Indian subcontinent. It is colloquially known as the "festival of lights", for the common practice is to light small diyas (oil lamps) and place them around the home, in courtyards, verandahs, and gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls.
To Hindus, darkness represents ignorance, and light is a metaphor for knowledge. Therefore, lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction, through knowledge, of all negative forces- wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice, oppression and suffering, etc.
The celebration of the festival is invariably accompanied by the exchange of sweets and the explosion of fireworks.
On this Diwali day, we wish knowledge of truth will remove the ignorance of those who are still trapped by the dangerous cult!!
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