Krishna and the Demon Narakasura

Long ago there lived a demon king named Narakasura. He was strong, but he was not kind. He took things that did not belong to him, he frightened people, and he locked up sixteen thousand people as prisoners in his dark fortress.

Narakasura had even stolen the beautiful earrings of Aditi, the mother of the gods. Everyone was too scared to stop him.

But Lord Krishna was not scared. Krishna rode on his great eagle friend Garuda, with his wife Satyabhama by his side, and went to face the demon king.

There was a fierce battle. Narakasura threw everything he had at Krishna, but Krishna was too clever and too strong. With his spinning discus, the Sudarshana Chakra, Krishna defeated Narakasura, and the wicked king's rule was over.

In his very last moment, Narakasura felt sorry for all the bad things he had done. He asked Krishna for one wish: 'Let people remember this day not with sadness, but with lights and joy.' Krishna, who was kind even to those who had done wrong, agreed.

Krishna freed all sixteen thousand prisoners, and they went home to their families weeping with happiness. The whole world lit lamps to celebrate.

In many parts of South India, this story is the heart of Diwali. Families wake up very early, before the sun, take a special oil bath, wear new clothes, and burst crackers to celebrate the day Krishna set everyone free.

So when you light a lamp on Diwali morning, remember: it is also a lamp for the day a bully was stopped, and thousands of people got to go home.