By Anita Marwaha
- Roughly a billion people celebrate Diwali annually.
- Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean of milk, holding a pot of amrit (the nectar of immortality) during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) on the day of Diwali.
- For Jains, Diwali marks the day when Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, attained nirvana or liberation.
- On Diwali, Balipadyami in Karnataka, commemorates King Bali's return.
- The Foundation of the Golden Temple was laid on Diwali. Sikhs call Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas and celebrate it by feasting, and travelling to The Golden Temple. In Punjab, the Sikh tradition of celebrating Guru Hargobind Sahib's return from prison on Diwali once included lantern processions on horseback & release birds as a mark of freedom.
- Buddhists celebrate Diwali to commemorate the time, in the 3rd Century BCE, when Emperor Ashoka adopted and embraced Buddhism.
- In Bengal, people worship Maa Kali, the destroyer of all evil forces, on Diwali.
- In some regions, people adorn and worship cattle during Diwali, particularly on Govardhan Puja, to honour their significance.
- Diwali marks the Hindu New Year in some parts of India. Many businesses begin their new financial year on Diwali and start new ventures.
- Marking the beginning of winter, Diwali also symbolises the start of a new sowing season. Diwali coincides with the end of Kharif harvest in many regions. Lighting lamps in the fields was once a way to guide farmers home and keep insects away from stored grain.
- Apart from India, the countries observing the official national holiday for Diwali are Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad, Tobago....
- In Nepal, Diwali is marked as Tihar ir Swanti. Here, people worship Lord Krishna and celebrate his victory over the wicked king Narakaasura.
- In Malaysia, it is called Hari Diwali.
