India, Nov. 5 -- By Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik - Author, Speaker, Illustrator, Mythologist

Diwali is the Prakrit way of saying Deepavali, a Sanskrit word meaning 'the festival of lights.' This festival has been increasingly dominated by a single Hindi-belt narrative: that it commemorates the Rama's return to Ayodhya after his forest-exile.

But Diwali is also about Krishna and Yama and Lakshmi and Bali. It is also Jain festival marking the ascent of Mahavira to the heaven of Tirthankaras. And it is a Sikh celebration in memory of how Guru Hargobind enabled the release of 52 kings when he was finally set free from Jehangir's prison.

People have found many excuses to celebrate this festival suggesting it predates all narratives.

Diwali has an...