DIWALI only became a national holiday after Independence. Before then, its celebration was confined almost wholly to the Indian community. With the advent of Independence, it was felt that the country would become more integrated and stronger if the various communities learnt more about and shared in each other’s cultures. Thus, Hindu and Muslim holy days, which were previously confined to the Indian community, were made into public holidays so that all communities could participate in them, and Diwali was among the most important.

Its spiritual, religious, and celebratory aspects were universalistic, so the whole nation could easily and happily participate in its celebrations. Its message was that light will prevail over darkness, truth over untruth, justice over injustice, unity over disunity, and loving-kindness over hatred, anger, and violence. These spiritual teachings are manifested in human activities and constant encounters between human beings. The celebratory aspects include hospitality extended to neighbours and strangers, singing, dancing, and music, with decorations and bright lights and colours pervading homes and communities, with diyas symbolising this.

The richest and most important aspect of Diwali is the traditions that have become attached to it as it moves through the millennia. Though traditions differ, they are united in their teaching that light will overcome darkness and good will always prevail over evil. The three traditions prevailing in Guyana are the return of Lord Rama from banwas (his exile), the killing of the evil demon Narakasura, and the overarching presence of Maha Lakshmi and the many virtues she personifies.

King Dasaratha ruled over the prosperous kingdom of Ayodhya. His three queens bore him three sons—Rama, Lakshmana, and Bharata. The three sons, unlike their mothers, were very close to each other and shared a deep mutual love. The son who was to succeed to the throne was Rama, who was very popular and respected, excelling in whatever activities he engaged in. Everyone looked forward to Rama as heir apparent, except Bharata’s mother, who desired her son to be king. She, therefore, manipulated the old and weak king to send Rama into exile far away into the deep jungle for 14 years, during which Bharata would rule the kingdom.

Bharata saw the injustice to which Rama was being subjected and refused to sit on the throne, placing Rama’s slippers on the pedestal and vowing that if Rama did not return at the end of the 14 years, he would take his own life. Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana then set out for their exile. During his exile, Rama experienced many trials and dangers, and these are recounted in the famous epic, the Ramayana.

At the end of 14 years, the people of Ayodhya, with great rejoicing, lit up their homes and placed diyas along the streets to welcome Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. This was the first Diwali, which has been perpetuated for the last 5,000 years.

The other Diwali tradition commemorated in Guyana is the story of Narakasura. Narakasura had divine ancestry and had performed the most exacting of the tapasya (penances), which made him equal in power to the Gods. He approached Lord Brahma and requested boons, as he was now entitled to do, and asked to be made immortal. Lord Brahma told him that the gift of immortality was forbidden, but he could ask for something else. He asked that he could only be killed by his mother, knowing that his mother would never kill him. He then took to a life of terrorising the inhabitants of the Heavens and Earth, committing massive atrocities until the people of Earth petitioned Lord Vishnu for salvation from the demon. The only being capable of matching and eliminating the demon was Lord Krishna, and the Gods persisted for him to engage the demon.

When setting out to battle Narakasura, Lord Krishna’s wife, Satyabhama, insisted that she accompany him, which he reluctantly allowed. Krishna and Narakasura struggled for a very long time until Lord Krishna was able to cut off the demon’s five heads with his Vajra, his mysterious projectile weapon. But Narakasura kept fighting until Satyabhama shot him dead with her arrows. She was able to kill him because, without being aware of it, she was the reincarnation of Narakasura’s mother.

The populations of the Heavens and Earth, being freed of this pervasive evil, were overjoyed and celebrated with illuminations and feasting, which are perpetuated in present-day Diwali celebrations. Narakasura, in his depredations, had kidnapped 16,000 women who, having been under the demon’s control, were considered outcasts and ostracised. To rescue them from this terrible fate and rehabilitate them into society, Lord Krishna married all 16,000.

More than the Narakasura tradition, the worship of Maha Lakshmi permeates Diwali. Maha Lakshmi personifies all that is good, pleasant, and cultured in human life. She personifies light, wisdom, morality, prosperity, wealth, and happy human relationships. People worship her during Diwali to elicit those qualities for themselves and their families. Diwali is celebrated with the same festivities as in the other traditions, with light and illumination particularly emphasised, as Lakshmi is the deity who personifies the triumph of light over darkness. On Diwali night, doors are kept open to allow Maha Lakshmi to enter and welcome guests. Those who desire wealth or generate it, like the business community, pay particular worship to Lakshmi during Diwali.