Diwali (pronounced Divali) is the Hindu festival of lights and is the most important holiday in India. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance, although the actual legends that go with the festival are different in different parts of India.

Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs.

Why isn't Diwali celebrated on the same date each year?
The Hindu calendar is based on the lunar cycle (movement of the moon) unlike the conventional Western (or Gregorian) calendar. The result is that Hindu festivals move about the Western calendar from year to year. Diwali will be celebrated on the 5th November in 2010.

Why do we celebrate Diwali?
There are lots of reasons people Celebrate Diwali.The story of Rama and Sita is just one of them. This version of the story is called the Ramayana.

A long time ago, King Dashratha ruled over the kingdom of Ayodhya. He was a good and kind man. King Dashratha had a son called Rama who was married to a princess named Sita. King Dashratha had promised Rama that one day he would inherit the throne and be king. Rama had a stepmother called Kaikeyi. When she heard what the king had said to Rama, she was very angry. She wanted her own son Bharat to become king. Kaikeyi remembered that King Daratha had promised her two very big favours. She went to the King and said, “I want my own son, Prince Bharat, to become King. You must banish Rama and Sita to the forest for fourteen years”.

The King was very upset but he could not go back on his promise. Reluctantly, he met with Rama and Sita and told them the news. Without any argument, Rama obeyed his father and Sita and he left for the forest. Rama's brother Lakshman decided to go with them. The people of the kingdom were
very sad when they left.

King Dashratha did not live much longer. After his death, Queen Kaikeyi went to her son Bharat and told him he was to become the new king. Bharat did not want to be king as he knew in his heart that Rama was the rightful heir to the throne. He went into the forest to find Rama and bring him back to Ayodhya.
Bharat eventually found Rama, Sita and Lakshman. He told them of King Dashratha's death and asked them to return with him so that Rama could become king. Rama told Bharat that he would not break his promise to his father. Only after the full fourteen years were over would he return. Bharat left them in the forest, and travelled back to the kingdom alone. With him he carried Rama's golden sandals, and placed them on the throne. He said to the people of Ayodhya, “Rama is your true king. I will look after the kingdom until he returns”.

Rama, Sita and Lakshman lived peacefully for a number of years until a wicked demon called Ravana came to the forest. He was very powerful and had ten heads. Ravana wanted to capture Sita and make her his wife. He used lots of tricks to try to capture Sita and one day Ravana imitated Rama's voice, saying “Help, come and save me Lakshman!”. Before he ran to help his brother Lakshman drew a magic circle around Sita. He told her that if she stayed inside the circle, she would be protected from harm.

When Lakshman had left, Ravana came out from his hiding place disguised as a beggar. He persuaded Sita to step out of the magic circle and snatched her away before Rama and Lakshman returned. Ravana put Sita in his magic chariot and flew her to his palace on the island of Lanka. For some years Sita remained his prisoner there. Ravana tried to make Sita marry him but she refused.

All the while, Rama and Lakshman desperately tried to find Sita. They searched the whole forest but found no sign of her. Finally, some help came to them in the formof Hanuman, king of the monkeys. Hanuman could fly and had seen Sita at Ravana's palace. Rama and Lakshman wanted to kill Ravana and rescue Sita. They made their way to Lanka with Hanuman and his army of monkeys. But Ravana was ready for them and had prepared his own huge army. The battle began, and lasted for ten long days. Ravana's army seemed to be winning. But then, on the battlefield, Rama caught sight of the ten-headed demon. With a bow and arrow sent from the gods, he took a careful aim and let the arrow fly. Ravana was killed. The battle was won.

Rama found Sita at Ravana's palace and rescued her. They joined Lakshman, Hanuman and his army and made their way back home. It was time to celebrate. Having completed their fourteen-year exile, Rama and Sita could return to the kingdom of Ayodhya where the people awaited their true king.

In preparation for Rama's homecoming, the people of Ayodhya cleaned and polished the whole kingdom. To welcome him back, colourful Rangoli designs were painted outside each home, flower garlands were strung everywhere and there was
much singing and dancing. It was a moonless night so diva lamps were lit throughout the whole kingdom to guide Rama to his palace. It is said that there were more flickering lamps than stars twinkling in the sky. The whole kingdom celebrated as Rama was made King of Ayodhya. To this day, every year the return of Rama is honoured with a festival of lights. Lamps are lit to banish darkness and to bring light and happiness into the world.

Celebrating Diwali
As well as celebrating the return of Rama and Sita, diya lamps are also lit to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into people's homes. Lakshmi (pictured on the left) is the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.

At Diwali Sikhs celebrate the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, who had been unjustly imprisoned for his beliefs.

At Diwali people decorate their homes with bright colours and lights. They light diya lamps and set off fireworks. Families give gifts and sweets to each other and visit the temples to say prayers.

Take a look at the games and activities page to see how to make your very own diya lamp.

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