Navarathri Literally, this means the festival of nine nights. Nava meaning nine and rathri meaning night. This festival takes different forms in different states of India. The festival is held to propitiate the goddess Shakti, for power, wealth and knowledge.

Karthigai Deepam Rows of glittering earthen lamps that are lit can be seen outside every home, and the joyous burst of fire crackers mark Tamil Nadu's Festival of Lights.

Deepavali Festival is a five day Hindu festival, It occurs on the fifteenth day of the Tamil month of Karthika. During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned and the windows are opened to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Oil lamps are lit to greet Lakshmi. Gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared during Deepavali. Deepavali being the festival of lights, thousands of oil lamps are lit inside and outside every home on that day.

The deepam or lamp is the symbol of knowledge and enlightenment. Lighting the lamp of knowledge within us means to understand and reflect upon the significant purpose of each of the five days of festivities and to bring those thoughts in to our daily lives.

According to Ramayana, it is believed that Deepavali commemorates the return of Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the eldest son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, from the 14-year exile that he had taken with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman after killing Ravana, a demon king. The people illuminated the kingdom of Ayodhya with earthen diyas or oil lamps and fireworks to celebrate the return of their exiled king.

In rural areas, Deepavali signifies Harvest Festival. Deepavali occurs at the end of a harvest season and so along with the religious significance of the festival as explained earlier, it is also reinforced that a good harvest meant prosperity. This celebration was first started in India by farmers after they reaped their harvests. They celebrate with joy and offer praises to God for granting them a good crop.

When Lord Krishna destroyed Narakasura on the day before Deepavali the news travelled very rapidly throught the land. It gave people who were already in a joyful mood, another reason for celebrating Deepavali with greater pride and elaboration.

In the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, the Pandavas returned from the forest during Deepavali time. Once more, the celebrations extended beyond the boundaries of India to wherever Hindus lived.

It is on the same day of Amavasya Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, that leonine sanyasin who was one of the first to light the torch of Hindu Renaissance during the last century, passed into eternity. Swami Ramatirtha who carried the fragrance of the spiritual message of Hindu Dharma to the western world, also passed into eternity.

The lights kindled on this day also mark the attempt of their followers to immortalize the sacred memories of those great men who lived to brighten the lives of millions of their fellow beings. The passage of these great men has indeed brought a national as well a spiritual tradition of Deepavali right up to modern times.