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<p class="C1">&#65279D&#298V&#256L&#298, festival of lights (from Sanskrit <i>d&#299pam&#257l&#257</i> or <i>dip&#257val&#299</i> meaning row of lamps or nocturnal illumination), is observed all over India on <i>am&#257vasy&#257</i>, the last day of the dark half of the lunar month of K&#257rtika (October-November). Like other seasonal festivals, D&#299v&#257l&#299 has been celebrated since time immemorial. In its earliest form, it was regarded as a means to ward off, expel or appease the malignant spirits of darkness and ill luck. The festival is usually linked with the return to Ayodhy&#257 of Lord R&#257ma at the end of his fourteen-year exile. For the Hindus it is also an occasion for the worship of Lak&#7779m&#299, the goddess of good fortune, beauty and wealth.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	Among the Sikhs, D&#299val&#299 came to have special significance from the day the town of Amritsar was illuminated on the return to it of Gur&#363 Hargobind (1595-1644) who had been held captive in the Fort at Gw&#257l&#299or under the orders of the Mu<u>gh</u>al emperor, Jah&#257&#7749g&#299r (1570-1627). Henceforth D&#299v&#257l&#299, like Bais&#257kh&#299, became a day of pilgrimage to the seat of the Gur&#363s. Bh&#257&#299 Gurd&#257s (d. 1636), in his <i>V&#257r&#257&#7749</i>, XIX. 6, has drawn an image of "lamps lighted on the night of Div&#257l&#299 like the stars, big and small, twinkling in the firmament going out one by one bringing home to the <i>gurmukh</i>, one who has his face turned towards the Gur&#363, i. e. he who is attached to the Gur&#363, how transitory the world is. "</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	During the turbulent eighteenth century, it was customary for the roaming warrior-bands of Sikhs to converge upon Amritsar braving all hazards to celebrate D&#299v&#257l&#299. It was for his endeavour to hold such a congregation at Amritsar that Bh&#257&#299 Man&#299 Si&#7749gh, a most widely revered Sikh of his time, was put to death under the imperial fiat. Amritsar still attracts vast numbers of Sikhs for the festival and although all <i>gurdw&#257r&#257s</i> and Sikh homes are generally illuminated on D&#299v&#257l&#299 night, the best and the most expensive display of lights and fireworks takes place at the Darb&#257r S&#257hib (Golden Temple), Amritsar.</p>
</ol><p class="CONT">S. S. Vañj&#257r&#257 Bed&#299<br></p><BR>
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