Why Diwali is Celebrated? or What is the Reason to Celebrate Diwali? This question does not have a particular single answer. Deepawali is not celebrated for a single reason, there are 11 different reasons why we celebrate Diwali.
Diwali is very special and one of the very auspecious festivals for the Hindu community around the world. Generally, we understand that Diwali is celebrated because this day Lord Rama with his wife Sita & brother Laxman came back to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. And therefore we celebrate the Diwali. But this is one reason, there are some other reasons as well.
Also, check Happy Diwalis Wishes & Greetings for your Loved Ones.
So why Diwali is Celebrated? Here you are going to learn about 10 prominent reasons behind the Diwali celebration as well as-
Why Goddess Lakshmi is Worshiped on Diwali?
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Goddess Lakshmi Appeared from Samudra Manthan
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On the day of Diwali every Hindu household, shopkeepers, business perform Lakshmi Pooja & that is because the day Goddess Lakshmi was born from Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean of milk by the gods and demons. On the night of Diwali, Lakshmi chose Vishnu as her husband and married him. According to the Hindu tradition worshipping goddess Lakshmi, this day brings year-long joy & wealth. In western India like Maharasthra & Gujarat, Diwali is considered the beginning of the new year.
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Lord Vishnu Rescued Goddes Lakshmi
It is believed that Lord Vishnu, in his fifth Vaman-avatar, rescued Goddess Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali. On this day, King Bali was banished to rule the netherworld on the order of Lord Vishnu.
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Rama Returned Back to Ayodhya on this Day
According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Rama, his brother Laxmana and his wife Sita returned to Ayodhya after a period of 14 years in exile after defeating the demon king Ravana. People of Ayodhya lit diyas and celebrated the occasion. This is 2nd reason why Diwali is celebrated.
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Narkasur was killed by Krishan in Dwapar Yug
In Dwapara yuga, Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, killed demon Narakasura, the evil king of Pragjyotishapura, near present-day Assam, who had held 16,000 girls in captivity. In the Braj region in northern India, parts of Assam, as well as southern Tamil and Telugu communities, Narak Chaturdashi is viewed as the day on which Krishna killed Narakasura, this day is also named as Narak Chaturdashi. 3rd reason why Diwali is Celebrated.
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Pandavas Return to Hastinapur after 12 years Exile
The five Pandava brothers had been tricked into losing a bet in gambling after which their Kaurava cousins banished them for 12 years. The Pandavas returned to Hastinapur on Kartik Amavasya, as per the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
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Bandhi Chhor Diwas
In Sikhism, Diwali is related to a historic event. Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, along with 52 other Hindu kings, was released from captivity by Mughal emperor Jahangir on the day of Diwali. Sikh Community also celebrates this day with enthusiasm.
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Mahavir Nirwana Diwas
In Jainism, the festival of Diwali is celebrated to observe the anniversary of Nirvana of Mahavira’s soul, the twenty-fourth and last Jain Tirthankara of the present cosmic age. Mahavira attained moksha (liberation) on Chaturdashi of Kartik month hence Diwali is Celebrated by Jain Community as well.
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Maharaja Vikramaditya Coronation Day
The Legendary Hindu king of Bharath Vikramaditya was crowned on Diwali. He is characterized as an ideal king known for his generosity, courage, and patronage of scholars. Amid degradation of the world due to non-Vedic faiths, Shiva sent Vikramaditya to the earth. Hindu Calendar Vikram Samwat was started by Vikramaditya. This is the 8th Reason Why Diwali is Celebrated.
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Kali Pooja
As per the Kalikula sect of Shaktism, the day of incarnation of Kamalatmika, the last manifestation of goddess Mahakali, is celebrated as Kamalatmika Jayanti. It falls on the day of Deepawali. Kali Puja is celebrated in regions of Bengal, Mithila, Odisha, Assam, Sylhet, Chittagong, and the town of Titwala in Maharashtra.
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Maharshi Dayananda attained Nirvana
On the new moon day of Kartik, Maharshi Dayananda, founder of Arya Samaj, attained Nirvana.
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End of Harvesting Season & Begining of New Year
Diwali comes when the crop harvesting season ends with harvesting the Paddy (Rice) and people offer the prayers and first crop to their deities. In the part of western India Diwali is the beginning of a new year. This is one more reason why Diwali is Celebrated.
