I belong to Lucknow, but I was born in Chennai and grew up there for 12 years. My parents taught me that the reason we celebrated Diwali was that God King Rama killed the demon Ravana and returned to Ayodhya, his kingdom. I later realized that the day he killed Ravana is now celebrated as Dussehra, Diwali is specifically the day he returned to Ayodhya. It falls on the Amavasya (the new moon) of the Kartik maas (month) of the Hindu calendar.
Well, over a discussion with one of my Tamil friends, I came to know the fascinating story of Narkasura and his slaying by Krishna. And that is the reason they celebrate Deepavali. It was fascinating. Both reasons being as supernatural and mythical as they are, the biggest celebration across India (except for the world cup triumphs in 1983 and 2011) happens for different reasons in different regions. This country never stops to amaze you.
So I did a little more research on this. Apparently, the Rama and his entourage weren't the only ones to come back home on Kartik Amavasya. The Pandava brothers and Draupadi came back to their kingdom of Hastinapur on this very day. And since they were all honest, caring and intelligent people, their subjects welcomed them back with, you guessed right, diyas. So that is another reason why Diwali is celebrated the way it is.
How is it celebrated?
Well, that depends totally on us. Personally,
1. I love to gorge on sweets,
2. I absolutely love lighting up my home,
3. Its part of the fun to call up relatives (only the close ones!)
4. Its again part of the fun to call up relatives to confirm the muharat of the puja
5. I partake in the Lakshmi puja that happens every year
6. I go up to the terrace, watch in child-like amazement at the various rockets that lighten up the sky
7. I have stopped bursting crackers now (a mix of a tragic fire incident and environmental awareness), but that used to be fun as well.
But the best part is coming home. Seeing my parents. Talking to them. Laughing with them. And eating with them. This is what it must have felt like for Rama, Lakshamana and Sita. This is what it must have felt like for the Pandavas too. Coming back to people who make you comfortable.
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