Every year, millions of lamps illuminate homes, streets, and temples across India during the festival of Deepavali, or Diwali, the “Festival of Lights.” Beyond its splendid beauty lies a profound message: the triumph of divine light over ignorance, virtue over sin, and devotion over material illusion. Deepavali reminds us of the eternal triumph of righteousness over unrighteousness. 

The Meaning of Deepavali 

The Sanskrit word Deepavali means “a row of lamps” (deepa – lamp, avali). In the kingdom of Ayodhya, the devotees filled their city with countless ghee lamps to welcome Lord Rama after His victory over the demon Ravana. Since then, people have celebrated Deepavali as the festival marking righteousness and the banishment of darkness. 

Light symbolises divine knowledge, and darkness represents ignorance. In the Bhagavad-gita (10.11), Lord Krishna declares, “To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.”
 
Thus, Lord Krishna Himself provides the guidance required for the seeker to progress in the path of knowledge and  devotion. 

The Festival of Five Days 

Traditionally, Deepavali is celebrated over five days, each carrying a spiritual lesson and opportunity for purification. 

1.  Dhanteras: On the first day of Deepavali, Goddess Mahalakshmi is worshipped and offered various auspicious items to seek her blessings for prosperity and well-being.

On this day, people also offer respect to Lord Dhanvantari, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu who brought the science of Ayurveda. For devotees, cleanliness and purification symbolise readiness to invite the Lord into one’s heart.
  

2.  Naraka Chaturdashi: This day commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, who had terrorised the world. When the demon was slain, the heavens rejoiced, and people lit lamps to celebrate Krishna’s triumph.
  

3.  Deepavali: On the darkest night of the month, people light thousands of ghee lamps to dispel darkness. It marks Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya. In ISKCON temples, throughout the kartika month, devotees offer ghee lamps to Lord Damodara and sing the Damodarashtakam prayers, remembering His sweet pastimes as child Damodara, bound by the pure love of Mother Yashoda.
  

4. Govardhana Puja: The day after Deepavali celebrates the pastime of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhana Hill in Vrindavan. Devotees prepare a grand offering of food, called Annakuta, to commemorate how Krishna protected the residents of Vrindavan from torrential rains and taught that worship should be directed toward Him only, the Supreme Lord.

5. Bhai Dooj: The final day honours the loving relationship between brothers and sisters. The brothers present gifts and promise to protect their sisters.

The True Victory — Krishna, the Supreme Lord

In all these celebrations, Lord Krishna stands as the central figure — the supreme source of light. The Brahma-samhita (5.40) describes:

“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose effulgence is the source of the nondifferentiated Brahman mentioned in the Upaniṣads, being differentiated from the infinity of glories of the mundane universe appears as the indivisible, infinite, limitless, truth.”

All forms of light, the sun, moon, fire, or lamp, borrow their brilliance from Krishna’s divine effulgence. Therefore, utilise this opportunity to invoke Lord Krishna’s bright presence in our hearts.

When a person chants the holy names — Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare — the heart becomes illuminated with divine wisdom. This is the essence “lighting of lamps.” 

Deepavali at ISKCON Bangalore 

The festival of lights, this celebration beautifully blends into the month-long Kartika Deepotsava, a sacred festival of devotion and lamps dedicated to Lord Damodara.

Every year, ISKCON Bangalore celebrates Deepavali at ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar,  ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill, Vasanthapura and ISKCON Hare Krishna Dham, Whitefield. As evening descends, the temples glow with thousands of lamps. Devotees, young and old, line the pathways, balconies, and courtyards, each holding a small lamp of love and faith. 

At ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill, the marble floors reflect the shimmering light as the altar doors open to reveal the beautiful Deities — Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, Sri Nitai Gauranga, and Sri Krishna Balarama. The fragrance of incense fills the air while melodious kirtans resound, and devotees sing the Damodarashtakam, glorifying Lord Krishna’s charming form as Damodara, bound by the love of Mother Yashoda.

Then begins the Deepotsava arati — a sight of divine splendour. Devotees offer lamps before the Lord as devotees offer their own lamps in unison, creating a sea of golden lights that flickers like thousands of petals before the Deities. The rhythmic beats of mridangas and the sweet sound of kartals fill the air, uplifting every heart in spiritual joy. 

Thousands of visitors from across Bengaluru gather at ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill, ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill and in many residential communities at Whitefield organised by the devotees of ISKCON Hare Krishna Dham, Whitefield to witness this grand festival to experience the presence of the Supreme Lord, the eternal source of all light. 

The Spiritual Message of Deepavali

Deepavali reminds us to remove darkness not only from our surroundings but from our hearts, the darkness of ignorance, envy, and selfish desire.

When we decorate our homes with lamps, we must also decorate our consciousness with remembrance of Lord Krishna. When we clean our homes, we should also cleanse our hearts through chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. And when we share sweets and gifts, we should also share Krishna’s message — that real happiness comes from serving Him. 

Lighting the Lamp Within

The Deepavali celebrations at ISKCON Bangalore beautifully capture this spirit. Throughout Kartika, the temple shines with the light of ghee lamps and the joyful devotion of the devotees. Each lamp offered to Lord Damodara signifies a prayer: “May the Lord light my heart with knowledge and devotion.” 

Srila Prabhupada explained that spiritual life begins when we turn toward Krishna. Just as the sun removes darkness immediately, when we bring Krishna into our lives, ignorance and misery vanish naturally. In His association, the heart blossoms like a lotus opening at sunrise. 

The Eternal Light of Lord Krishna 

As the Deepavali night gently passes, the brilliance of countless lamps mirrors the everlasting light of Lord Krishna. He is the eternal light residing in every heart, waiting to shine through remembrance and service. 

May this Deepavali inspire all of us to light that lamp within, the lamp of Krishna consciousness and bring victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and devotion to Krishna over illusion.