Among the Jain festivals, Diwali is one of the most important one. For on this occasion we celebrate the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira who established the dharma as we follow it.
Lord Mahavira was born as Vardhamana on Chaitra Shukla 13 in the Nata clan at Khattiya-kundapura, more than 2600 years ago near Vaishali. He obtained Kevala Gyana on Vishakha Shukla 10 at the Jambhraka village on the banks of Rijukula river at the age of 42. He initiated his shaashan (Jaina-shashana) on Shravana KrashNa 1 at his first assembly at Rajgrah. After having preached the dharma for 30 years, he attained Nirvana at Pavapuri, at the age of 71 years and 6 and half months.
The day of his Nirvana is is mentioned by many ancient authors.
Thus during the krashNa of kartika month, during the svati nakshatra, on the night of the 14th (dawn of the amavasya), lord Mahavira became a Siddha.
The first line of it was quoted in Dhavalaa by Virasenacharya. Thus the NirvaaNa of the lord occurred 605 years and 5 moths before the Shaka king. Kalpasutra mentions that the King Chetaka of Vaishali with several confederate kings, had a great lightning of lights, since they said:
"since the light of intelligence (Vardhamana Mahavira) is gone, let us make an illumination of the material matter'"
A humble request....please don't burst crackers instead donate the money to the poor and let them to enjoy diwali this year
Wishing You A Very Happy