As usual for the festivals of India, there are multiple stories on why people celebrate Deepa-avali. Here is my story on it.
Naraka-asura is is the son of Earth (Bhumi, Aditi) and the Boar (varAha avatar of god Vishnu) that guards the forests of Earth. He got friendship of Mura, a demon that induces vices (of selfishness and self-centrism) in our mind. When he became very powerful he started abusing Aditi, the divine Mother Earth herself. After bearing it all for a very long time, in another eon, Aditi complained to SatyabhAma, the wife of Krishna, the ruler of west of India (while Naraka ruled in other corner, the east of India). Krishna and Satyabhama teamed up, fought and killed Naraka. But before that they have to kill Mura, the demon that induces the vices of selfishness and self-centrism in Naraka's mind.
At the time of death (as Mura got killed), Naraka realized his mistake, begged forgiveness and asked for a boon. That people will celebrate his death by purifying their body and mind. Purify the body by waking up early, taking bath and purify their mind by lighting lamps, sharing sweets and clothes with others.
Deepavali's symbolism is NOT about us wearing clothes and eating sweets, it is about sharing it with others. That sharing removes the vices of selfishness and self-centrism in our minds and induces the principle of sharing and living sustainably, as we demand less from Mother Earth.
From that day people celebrate the next day to Naraka's death as Deepavali.
But Naraka is just us humans, the sons of Mother Earth. When vices (selfishness, self-centric philosophies) enter our mind and we also become powerful, we abuse Mother Earth herself. She tolerates for long time, makes humans think they are extremely powerful. After a long time, she revolts and the result is destruction of not just the vices in our mind, but physical elimination of all those who destroy Mother Earth.
To stop the destruction of Mother Earth, we need to eliminate these vices of self-centric living. The only way available for that is to share/distribute what we have with others, live with minimalistic demands on Mother Earth.
Deepavali reminds us of this principle of sharing that unless we share, we cannot live sustainably, without destroying Mother Earth.
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