Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 61

What is the name of the festival celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Think about the festival that symbolizes light over darkness.

Correct Answer: A) Diwali

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Bank PO, CLAT

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in India. It is a five-day festival that is observed in the Hindu lunar month of Kartika, which typically falls between mid-October and mid-November. The festival is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. The name "Diwali" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Deepavali," which means "a row of lights."

The primary legend associated with Diwali is the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. According to the epic Ramayana, Rama, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, had been in exile for 14 years. During this time, Ravana abducted Sita and took her to Lanka. Rama, with the help of his devotee Hanuman and an army of monkeys, defeated Ravana and rescued Sita. Upon their return to Ayodhya, the people of the city celebrated their return by lighting oil lamps, which symbolized the victory of good over evil.

Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy across India and by Hindus around the world. The festival is marked by the lighting of oil lamps, the exchange of sweets and gifts, and the setting off of fireworks. It is also a time for family gatherings, feasts, and the worship of the goddess Lakshmi, who is the deity of wealth and prosperity.

While other festivals such as Holi, Christmas, and Eid have their own cultural and religious significance, they do not specifically celebrate the victory of good over evil in the same way that Diwali does. Holi, for instance, is a festival of colors and spring, celebrating the victory of good over evil through the story of Prahlad and Holika, but it is not primarily associated with this theme. Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and Eid is a Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan, neither of which specifically mark the victory of good over evil.

Therefore, Diwali is the festival celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil, making it the correct answer to the question.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This is the correct answer. Diwali is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil, symbolized by the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
  • Option B: Incorrect. Holi is a festival of colors and spring, celebrating the victory of good over evil through the story of Prahlad and Holika, but it is not primarily associated with this theme.
  • Option C: Incorrect. Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and does not specifically mark the victory of good over evil.
  • Option D: Incorrect. Eid is a Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan and does not specifically celebrate the victory of good over evil.

Mnemonic: D-I-W-A-L-I: Defeating Ignorance With A Lighted Illumination

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