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Posted by XT on October 28th, 2008 in World News

Today is the Hindu celebration of lights known as Diwali or Deepavali. The backstory from Wikipedia:

In many parts of India, it is the homecoming of Lord Ram of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile in the forest, after he defeated the evil and demonic Ravan.[5] The people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Ram by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deeva), thus its name: Deepavali. This word, in due course, became Diwali in Hindi. But, in South Indian languages, the word did not undergo any change, and hence the festival is called Deepavali in southern India. There are many different observances of the holiday across India.

It is also observed by Sikhs:

Diwali came to have special significance from the day the town of Amritsar was illuminated on the return to it of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) who had been held captive in the Fort at Gwalior under the orders of the Mughal emperor, Jahangir (1570-1627). As the sixth Guru (teacher) of Sikhism, Guru Hargobind Ji, was freed from imprisonment – along with 53 Hindu Kings (who were held as political prisoners) whom the Guru had arranged to be released as well. After his release he went to the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in the holy city of Amritsar, where he was welcomed in happiness by the people who lit candles and diyas to greet the Guru. Because of this, Sikhs often refer to Diwali also as Bandi Chhorh Divas – “the day of release of detainees.”

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