Story of Ramayana | Why is Diwali called the Festival of Light? | Diwali Mythology | The Dr. Binocs

Summary

Diwali, one of India's most important festivals, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The story behind the festival revolves around Prince Rama, who is exiled with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. After Sita is abducted by the demon king Ravana, Rama, with the help of Hanuman and an army of monkeys and bears, wages an epic battle to rescue her. The victory is symbolized by lighting oil lamps, marking the return of Rama and the defeat of evil. Diwali, meaning 'row of lights', is celebrated globally, with the largest festivities outside India held in Leicester, UK.

Takeaways

• 😀 Diwali is one of India's most important festivals, celebrated with the lighting of lamps to symbolize the inner light that protects from evil and darkness.
• 😀 The most popular origin story of Diwali is the return of Prince Rama to his home after 14 years of exile, following his victory over the evil King Ravana.
• 😀 Prince Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana were sent into exile to fulfill their father's commitment, accepting the challenge gracefully.
• 😀 While in exile, the trio settled near a beautiful forest stream, but they were soon attacked by a demoness named Shurpanakha, who was enraged by their refusal to marry her.
• 😀 Shurpanakha, the sister of the powerful demon king Ravana, retaliated by informing her brother of Sita's beauty, leading Ravana to abduct her.
• 😀 Sita cleverly left a trail of her jewelry for Rama to follow, helping him trace her location.
• 😀 Rama, aided by the mighty Monkey King Hanuman and his army, embarked on a long search for Sita, eventually discovering her imprisonment on a distant island.
• 😀 Hanuman and Rama's army built a bridge across the ocean to rescue Sita, culminating in an epic battle against Ravana's forces.
• 😀 After defeating Ravana and rescuing Sita, Rama and Lakshmana journeyed back to their kingdom, with people lighting oil lamps to guide their way.
• 😀 The tradition of lighting lamps during Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, commemorating Rama's return and the defeat of Ravana.
• 😀 The word 'Diwali' comes from the Sanskrit term 'Dīpāvali', meaning 'row of lights'. The city of Leicester in the UK hosts the largest Diwali celebrations outside India.

Q & A

What is the significance of Diwali in India?

Diwali is one of India's biggest and most important festivals, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. People light oil lamps (diyas) outside their homes to represent inner light that protects them from the darkness of evil.

What is the most popular story behind Diwali's origin?

The most popular story behind Diwali is the return of Prince Rama to his home after 14 years of exile, following his victory over the evil demon king Ravana. This victory symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.

Who were the main characters in the story of Diwali?

The main characters in the story of Diwali are Prince Rama, his wife Sita, his brother Lakshmana, the demoness Shurpanakha, the demon king Ravana, and the Monkey King Hanuman.

Why were Prince Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana sent into exile?

Prince Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana were sent into exile to fulfill their father's commitment. They accepted this exile gracefully and lived in the forest for 14 years.

Who was Shurpanakha, and what role did she play in the story?

Shurpanakha was a demoness who became infatuated with the handsome Prince Rama and his brother Lakshmana. When they rejected her proposal of marriage, she became enraged and attacked Sita, which eventually led to her being punished by Lakshmana, further provoking her brother Ravana.

What did Ravana do after Shurpanakha's encounter with Rama and Lakshmana?

Ravana, the powerful demon king and brother of Shurpanakha, abducted Sita and took her away in his magical flying chariot. This set off a series of events leading to a battle to rescue Sita.

How did Rama and his allies find Sita?

Rama followed a trail of jewelry that Sita had left behind. This led him to Hanuman and his army of monkeys, who helped him search for Sita. After a long search, Hanuman found Sita on a distant island.

What was the key obstacle Rama and his army faced in rescuing Sita?

The main obstacle was the vast ocean separating Rama's army from Sita's location. To overcome this, Rama's army built a bridge across the ocean, with help from many animals, allowing them to cross and fight Ravana's forces.

How did the battle between Rama and Ravana end?

Rama fought an epic battle against Ravana's army and ultimately defeated Ravana by using a magical arrow to cut off the demon king's ten heads. This victory marked the triumph of good over evil.

What tradition is associated with the return of Rama and his army?

Upon Rama's return to his kingdom after defeating Ravana, people lit oil lamps (diyas) to guide him and his army back home. This tradition continues today, as people light lamps during Diwali to celebrate the victory of light over darkness.

What does the word 'Diwali' mean, and where are large celebrations held outside India?

The word 'Diwali' means 'row of lights' in Sanskrit. One of the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India takes place in Leicester, United Kingdom.