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Deepavali
Legends |
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Deepavali
is celebrated in commemoration of the
destruction of the demon called Narakasura
by Lord Krishna. As Lord Krishna
killed Narakasura on the Chaturdasi
day (the fourteenth lunar day).
it is also known as Narakachaturdasi.
The people of Dwaraka greeted Lord Krishna
with illumination and rejoicing in honour
of his victory over Narakasura. The darkness
of the Chaturdasi night compelled them
to use many lamps on the occasion, and
subsequently the illumination became a
part of this celebration. |
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Deepavali is supposed to be the
day when King
Rama's coronation was celebrated
in Ayodhya along with Sita and Lakshman
after his epic war with Ravana.
Fireworks and festivities are an
essential part of the occasion.
Another legend is that Vishnu gave
the festival to the Vaisyas, who
are traders, by tradition, and people
who tend cattle and cultivate the
land. It honors Lakshmi,
the goddess of wealth and
good fortune and consort of Vishnu.
It is celebrated with worship, ceremonial
displays of lights, and fireworks
to chase away the spirits of the
deceased. It is also a time for
financial
stock taking as well as for
the exchange
of gifts. The rich merchant
communities of western India celebrate
this festival in great style and
throughout India all traders open
new account books for the coming
year on this day.
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Another legend is
associated with the King Bali (Maha Bali
refer Onam festival).
The king had a long and happy reign. To
propitiate the gods he performed a Yagna
(fire sacrifice). So successful was his
Yagna that even the gods were terrified
to appear before him and grant him a boon
in the fear that what he might ask could
be beyond their capacity to satisfy. To
avoid embarrassment the gods sent one
of them to King Bali's court in the guise
of a sage. When the Sage reached King
bali's court, Bali asked him to ask for
anything he wanted. Facing the righteous
King, the sage asked for space for three
paces. This request seemed strange to
all the courtiers, but king Bali granted
it. Once the request was granted to him,
the wily Sage, who was none but god in
disguise, submerged the entire world ( Mrityu-loka)
with one step, with the second he submerged
heaven ( Swarga-loka)
and for the third step; there was no respectable
place to put his foot down and so he asked
the bewildered Bali for some respectable
place to this foot so that the boon could
be fulfilled. Left with no alternative,
the noble but exasperated King Bali offered
his head for the purpose. To his surprise,
the wily sage not only lost no time in
placing his foot over King Bali's head,
but also thrust Bali into the nether worlds
(Patala-loka) which as per Hindu cosmogony
is hell and lies below the surface of
the earth.
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