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Diwali or Deepavali meaning 'rows of lights' is one of the most popular festivals within the Hindu calendar. The theme of the festival is derived from the epic Ramayana, originally written by the sage Valmiki, but the festival also marks the Hindu New Year's Eve.

When His father was reluctantly forced to banish Him, Rama entered the forest- exiled along with His brother Laxman, and wife Sita. There Sita was captured and taken away by the demonic king Ravana to the island of Lanka.

Desperate to find His beloved wife, Lord Rama received the help of an army of celestial monkeys and bears. The monkey race included the most mystically endowed member - Shri Hanuman. Hanuman leaped over the ocean to Lanka and met Sita languishing in the grove of trees within Ravana's palace grounds. He returned the news to Rama, and together they built a bridge across the sea.

The battle was long and hard, but eventually Lord Rama personally met with Ravana. "You have stolen my wife just like a dog steals food from the table in his master's absence. Today, I whose attempt never fails, shall punish you!" After thus rebuking Ravana, Lord Rama shot an arrow which pierced his heart like a thunderbolt.

After defeating the demonic king Ravana, Lord Rama, along with brother Laxman, his wife mother Sita, Hanuman and all the monkey warriors triumphantly returned to the city of Ayodhya so that Lord Rama could claim the throne. Whey they returned in a splendid pushpak vimana (a flying chariot of flowers), it was the new moon night: pitch black. All the citizens of Ayodhya, therefore, lit the way for the return of Lord Rama by lighting millions of lamps along the route accompanied with fireworks.

On Diwali people visit their friends and relatives, wear new dresses and exchange gifts. Local temples are also visited to pay respects to Lord Rama. Probably no aspect of the Lord is ore universally known as Lord Ramachandra, 'the moon-like Rama'. In the temple, we see Him with one hand lifted in blessing and the other holding His bow of a warrior king. He came to demonstrate the justice, moral values and heroic activities of a perfect Monarch. His activities are remembered by way of enacting His pastimes and by singing devotional hymns. To finish the day everyone treated to wonderful firework displays in which effigies of Ravana are burnt to mark the victory of goodness over evil.

Coming of Diwali has great significance in the life of people. It is from this day they pray to follow the ideals exemplified by Lord Rama. They pray that the whole world can live in peace and everyone can interact with each other just like members of a big family, just as the scriptural injunction states ‘the whole world is a family’ - all living entities are children of one God, who is known by various names by different people. Prayers are said for the poor, homeless and the underprivileged of the world. In this way Hindus celebrate this important day and they wish that darkness of  ignorance be dispelled in everyone’s life by the ‘festival of lights’ and we can turn our face towards the Lord and realise that we all are eternal servants God.

The day after Diwali is the Hindu New Year. This day also marks the beginning of ‘Rama-rajya': the first day of rule for Lord Rama. Also on this day is Go-Puja, a ceremony which specially honours mother cow and 'annakut' which celebrates the worship of Gorvardhan Hill. These festivities have been practiced for thousands of years.