Diwali, the "Festival of Lights"
Diwali, the "Festival of Lights", is one of the most biggest festivals celebrated in India. What is Diwali? Known as the Festival of Lights, this religious holiday is characterized by the lighting of thousands of diyas (oil lamps). Indeed, the term 'Diwali' is a contraction of 'Deepavali', which literally means “row of lamps”'. Diwali is a national Hindu festival that is also celebrated by other religious communities including the Sikhs and Jains. Thus, there are religious and regional variations in the way it is celebrated. In Hindu community, Diwali is said to mark Lord Rama's victory over Ravana (a demon) - a triumph which meant he could return to his kingdom after fourteen years long exile in the forests. According to legend, the people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows of lamps. This is the reason why the lighting of lamps is the key component of Diwali Festival. Diwali is also linked to the ce...