Page 76 - Hinduism

dinners. They remind us of the advents of God on earth or commemorate the mighty deeds of God undertaken to purify the world by destroying the wicked and protecting the good, for the redemption of humanity. They are the outward expressions of our gratitude to God for His immense and constant mercy. If we do not express our gratitude to God, we will be guilty of ingratitude for the trouble that He has taken to make us approach Him. Dīpāvali, for instance, is a day of rejoicing and remembrance of the good that Śrī Kṛṣṇa did to the world by killing the cruel demon, Naraka, on the previous day. Saṅkrānti commemorates the release of the world from the clutches of the demon Bali whom Viṣṇu drove away by His prowess. It also demonstrates the immense mercy of the Lord who pardoned him in spite of his wickedness because he supplicated and who even took upon himself the burden of protecting him so long as he lived. Another class of festivals is the celebration of the birthdays of the avatāras of God and of saints who have bequeathed to us their wisdom of the things of this world and the worlds beyond.
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