Darkness signifies ignorance, and light signifies knowledge. Diwali is festival of lights and its significance is destroying inner negativity through knowledge and wisdom. Lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction of negativities inside our core such as malice, violence, lust, anger, envy, greed, prejudice, fear, injustice, oppression and suffering.
The festival is celebrated to enjoy the triumphant return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, after his voluntary exile of 14 years. The people of Ayodhya welcomed Rama by illuminating the capital with lights. Lord Rama is said to have governed for a long time during
which the people were happy and contented. This festival is also celebrated as Lord Krishna killed the demon king Narakaasura; the demon’s mother, Mother Earth, requested that the occasion be celebrated as one of euphoria. Lord Krishna agreed to her wishes and, since then, the celebration has continued with lights, crackers, sweets and festivity.
Diwali brings the light of happiness, togetherness, spiritual enlightenment and prosperity for one and all. The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to God for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, bravery and fame. Crackers are burnt because their sounds kill bad-omens. The festival of Diwali fills the air with a sensation of goodness and a blissful atmosphere. The reality is that this festival denotes festivity to life….it signifies that life is nothing but a festival, because when you are unhappy, you also throw unhappiness all around and when you are happy you spread happiness all around.
People express their cheerfulness by lighting earthen lamps (diyas), people wear new clothes, share sweets, decorate the houses, burst firecrackers and inviting near and dear ones to their homes for participating in their happiness.
The celebration is about fear, anger, jealousy accumulated in your mind in the last one year should get suspended, should get washed away. Hence, people make new resolutions and new beginnings on the eve of Diwali.