Happy Diwali

The word Diwali is made of
two words; deep (lamp or diyas) & avali (row),
which means a line or a row of lamps. During the
festival of Diwali lamps are lit in every home,
office, etc. that is why this festival is also known
as the ‘Festival of Lights’. Diwali is also called
as Deepavali.
Diwali is celebrated on four consecutive
days – the thirteenth day (Dhanatrayodashi), the
fourteenth day (Narak chaturdashi) and the new
moon day (amavasya) [Lakshmipujan] of the dark
fortnight of Ashvin and the first day of the bright
fortnight of Kartik (Balipratipada). Some exclude
the thirteenth and consider only the remaining
three days as Diwali. Since Vasubaras and
Bhaubij respectively precede and follow Diwali,
they are included in it. However in reality they
are separate holy festivals.
Spiritual significance
During the four months preceding Diwali
(festival of lights), the Absolute fire principle
(Tej tattva) is almost absent in the atmosphere.
Due to this, the Demons (in the earlier Eras)
used to dominate and trouble the people. In
order to effectively counter the threats from
Demons, Diwali, a worship based on the Absolute
fire principle was celebrated. In other words,
Diwali stands for the destruction of the
distressing elements that dominate the
environment. Every day of Diwali represents the
conquest of good over evil, piousness over
immorality and virtue over vice.