Festival of Lights Archives

Triumph of good over evil Deepavali – Festival of lights – By Thulasi Muttulingam Source : sundayobserver The Hindu festival of lights, Deepavali is round the corner. It falls this year on Thursday, October 31. Deepavali in Sanskrit translates to rows of lit lamps – and that’s how it is celebrated across most of the Indian subcontinent. Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus are slightly different however. We reserve the rows of lamps for the festival of Karthigai Deepam, which follows soon after. Some Sri Lankan Hindu households however, have begun to celebrate it in the Indian style now. Light over darkness It is a festival celebrating the advent of light over darkness. According to local Hindu Lore, the demon king Narakasura was wrecking hell on earth and heaven. As his name indicates, he was known as the Asura (Demon) from Naraka (Hell). He had won a boon from God that none but ...

Deepawali – By Shiyamala Yogeswaran Source : Dæhæna Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter Deepawali, or the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated globally in various ways. While deeply rooted in Hindu traditions, it is observed by over a billion people, including Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. The festival, which usually takes place in October or November, derives its name from the Sanskrit word meaning “row of lights.” Image Source : lyfta The light in Deepawali holds deep symbolic meaning which is wherever light shines, darkness is dispelled. Just as light drives away physical darkness, it also represents the removal of emotional and spiritual darkness caused by anger, greed, hatred, jealousy and ego. Enlightenment brings clarity, guiding the soul toward freedom from suffering of birth. When people realise the truth and grasp the deeper significance of life and the divine, their soul is liberated from worldly burdens. This spiritual ...