On the darkest night of the year in the Hindu Calendar, in the month of Karthika, the five-day long festival, Deepavali, is celebrated to light up the homes and hearts of people all around the country as a symbol of hope, strength and the victory of good. Deepavali, quite literally, means “rows of lights” and symbolises the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The festival is celebrated to honour Rama, the king of Ayodhya, who returned to his people and his kingdom, after spending 14 years in exile, during which he fought and won the war against the demon king, Ravana. The night Rama returned with his wife, Sita, was said to be a night with no moon and so, to welcome home their king, the people of Ayodhya celebrated his return with lights and lamps or “deepas”. Today, we celebrate the festival of Deepavali in a similar way, with deepas and light, on a no-moon day, or “Amavasya” in the month of Karthika, to recall King Rama’s triumph and honour his coronation. 

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