Diwali is the most important festival in India. For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of Moksha by Mahavir-Swami in 527 BC. The festival falls on the last day of the month of Ashvin, the end of the year in the Indian calendar. But the celebration starts in the early morning of the previous day as Lord Mahavir commenced his last sermon (final discourses know as Uttardhyayan), which lasted until the night of Diwali. At midnight, his soul left his body and attained liberation, Moksha.Eighteen kings of northern India were present in his audience at the time of his final sermon. They decided that the light of their master’s knowledge should be kept alive symbolically by the lighting of lamps. Hence it is called Deepavali or Diwali, (deep means a lamp and avali means series or multiple).
But the light of Lord Mahavir’s knowledge cannot be kept alive by just lighting the lamps. That is an external approach. Realistically, we should light up our internal lamps - awaken our inner vision by practicing the path preached by Lord Mahavir. As traditional Diwali lamp needs a clay bowl, oil, and cotton wick. The inner lamp needs the right faith, right knowledge, right conduct and right Tap (austerity). External lamps need oxygen while internal lamps need self-effort. The resolution to adopt the practice of good conduct is the way to celebrate Diwali. Some fast for two days as Lord Mahavir did. Some people recite –"Shri Mahavir Swami Sarvajnaya Namah" one very bead of the rosary (108 beads in one rosary) first followed by 19 rosaries of reciting "Shri Mahavir Swami Paragataya Namah".