Deepavali,the festival of lights, is heldthroughout India but in Kerala, this is celebratedonly by Hindus. It falls on the preceding day ofthe New Moon in the Malayalam month Thulam(October-November) and it commemorates thedestruction of the demon called Narakasura by LordKrishna. As Lord Krishna killed Narakasura on theChaturdasi day (the fourteenth lunar day) it isalso known as Narakachaturdasi.

Before sunrise, all in the house have their oilbath and put on new clothes. Sweets are thenserved followed by bursting of crackers.

The word 'Deepavali' means an array of lights. Thepeople of Dwaraka greeted Lord Krishna withillumination and rejoicing in honour of hisvictory over Narakasura. The darkness of theChaturdasi night compelled them to use many lampson the occasion, and subsequently the illuminationbecame a part of this celebration.

It is the practice in south India to consume apreparation of dry ginger and jaggery soon afterthe oil bath on the Deepavali day. Dry ginger andjaggery form the Nivedya (offering) forDhanwantari, the great exponent of Ayurveda. TheDhanwantari Jayanthi falls on the eve ofDeepavali. The separate observance of this day hascome to an end and enjoying the preparation of dryginger and jaggery fallen to the succeeding daynamely Deepavali.

Deepavali may have deeper significance than whatis popularly believed. At the time of the festivalthe sun is in the house of Thulam (Libra i.e. thescales) which signifies commerce, hence theassociation of Deepavali with merchants and theGoddess of wealth. The darkness and lightsymbolise ignorance and knowledge respectively.

As the light dispels darkness, ignorance is replacedby knowledge in the tradition of the prayer in theUpanishad, 'Thamaso ma Jyothirgamaya', "Carry usfrom the darkness to light". Some people say thatDeepavali, the festival of lights, symbolises thisprayer.

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