Light triumphs over darkness each year when Diwali, the Hindu festival of Lights, is celebrated in the Indian city of Varanasi, as well as in other parts of the world. Steeped with tradition, history and spirituality, it marks the most important date in the Hindu calendar.

Colorful skylanterns in Varanasi

On Oct. 17, 2009, no moon will illuminate the night sky – but it will not be dark in Varanasi, India. The darkness is driven away by the thousands of glowing oil lamps, diyas as celebrations of one of the most important date in the Hindu calendar start, the Diwali - Festival of Lights.

Diwali, or Deepavali, as it is often called, is a festival that honors the return of Lord Rama (an incarnation of the god Vishnu) after a 14-year exile, ending with his slaying of the demon king Ravana. Others, though, believe that it originated from the victory of Krishna over the demon Narakasura, who had been terrorizing the land. Many celebrate it as the victory of good over evil in the heart of each person.

Regardless of its origin, Diwali yearly attracts thousands of visitors from different faiths all over the world. Locals put on their best clothes, buy brass to signify wealth and cook a buffet worth of sumptuous food. Many North Indian communities even align the start of the financial year or the opening of new account books to the Diwali. Its spirit blazes on in different parts of the world with Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom and the United States having their own versions of the festival.

The Five Days of Diwali

Celebrated over the course of five days, this unique festival ranges from a solemn ritual to a festive occasion. Hindus typically rise up in the early hours of the morning and bathe themselves with a traditional fragrant oil called the Ganga Snaanam, a ritual akin to immersing oneself in the holy waters of the Ganges River. In fact, the standard greeting during this time is "Have you performed your Ganga Snaanam?" and not "Good Morning!"

Each day of the celebration is marked by carrying out pujas, or sacred rituals as a tribute to the god Krishna who had freed the land from fear by slaying the demon Narakasura. These solemn gatherings are then punctuated by an earsplitting round of firecrackers Diwali. At night, smoke rises up from the countless burning diyas, perfuming the air.

Devotees also observe Annakoot (mountain of food) where they cook and prepare around 56 different dishes well into the night as an offering to the Lord Krishna. In addition, they give temple idols a milk bath, dressing them afterwards in outfits dripping with precious stones.

Gifts and food marks the last day of the festival called Bhai Dooj. Sisters pray for and offer a sumptuous feast to their brothers, as a way of reliving the welcome Subhadra gave her brother, the Lord Krishna. In return, the brothers give their sisters gifts and customarily ask them about their welfare.

All Roads Lead to Varanasi

Billed as the most important date in the Hindu calendar, Diwali isn’t the most religion-centric occasion, instead giving the chance for people to change their negative outlooks on life, as is subtly conveyed by the various happenings during the festival. Celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, it encourages one to take a break and enjoy the little things in life often taken for granted, as well as to make lasting memories together with friends and family.

The lighting of a diya is believed to symbolize the power of light to illuminate all that is good and beautiful in this world, including its ability to destroy the negative forces - anger, greed, lust, and so forth. The first day of the festival is meant to remind one that wealth is not a corruptive power, and is in fact a reward for good deeds made in a past life. The second day, on the other hand, stands for the abandonment of evil and laziness, while the third day encourages one to reflect on the purpose of each passing day. One is persuaded to abstain from anger and jealousy during the fourth day, and then to see the good in everyone in the fifth and final day.

Being an important tourist hotspot, getting to Varanasi is relatively easy to do, with its well-developed transport network connecting it to all the major Indian cities. Domestic flights traverse the Delhi-Agra-Khajuraho-Varanasi route daily, and are very popular among tourists. It is also reachable by train, linked to other cities via the railway stations at the Kashi and Varanasi Junctions. Traveling via public and private buses is a good idea too, Varanasi being situated in the flat Ganga plains.

Traditional Indian sweets

Festival of Lights in Different Parts of the World

Not indigenous to India alone, Diwali is also celebrated in various parts of the world, like in Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom, just to name a few. The United States also celebrates the festival as a nod to the three million American Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. They do not, however, observe it at exactly the same date, particularly because the Hindu calendar is not fixed and differs by location.

In Nepal, it is known as Swanti, and consists of worshipping crows, dogs, cows, and the goddess of wealth, Laxmi. The Little India district in Singapore holds its own version of the festival too, where it is called by its traditional name Deepavali. The British Hindus, on the other hand, observe the occasion in a similar fashion to that in India, and is joined by lots of non-Hindus wanting to taste a different slice of culture and heritage.

Offering outsiders a glimpse into the Hindu world, Diwali is a people-oriented festival open to all ages, nationalities, and beliefs where old grudges are forgotten and relationships honored. For that reason alone, it is more than worth a visit, not the least it being an occasion celebrating the human capacity to do good.