What is history of Diwali?

Diwali is one of Hinduism’s most popular festivals, it represents the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.”

Diwali has been celebrated for centuries and it dates back almost as far as India’s history.

There are various stories about the origin of the Diwali tradition, each of which is widely accepted by various sections of Indian society.

Some of these have their origins in the various legends and mythical tales found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as Puranas.

According to the Bhagavata Purana (the most sacred Hindu text), Lord Vishnu defeated King Bali in the form of a dwarf (Vaman-avtaara) on Kartik day.

One of the well-known reasons is the return of Prince Rama of Ayodhya, his wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshman, from a 14-year exile and a battle against King Ravana that Prince Rama won.

Another well-known story from Diwali history is told in the Hindu epic, ‘Mahabharata.’ It is also believed that on Diwali, the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi, rose from the sea.