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"At that time the sky above Pāvāgiri glittered all around with the brilliant light emanating from the rows of lamps lit by gods and demons. Since that day all the beings of this world, filled with the devotion for the Nirvana Kalyāņaka, eagerly await this date in this Bhārata area to worship Bhagavāna Mahāvīra by celebrating Dipamālikā. (Since that date people started celebrating Dipávali in memory of Bhagavāna Mahāvīra)
Next day people assembled and exchanged gifts of sweets and roasted grains as a symbol of mutual affection. In the memory of the festival of Bhagavāna Mahāvīra's nirvana people in India and many other countries continue to celebrate two-day Dīpāvali festival and exchange gifts of sweets and roasted grains. Worship of Ganeša and Lakśmi is also done (although in a distorted way, forgetting the actual significance). The memory of Bhagavāna Mahāvīra's Samavasaraña is perpetuated in clay toys specially made on Dīpāvali.
References:
1. Places where auspicious events in a Tīrthankara's life are
celebrated. 2. Times of India, 19th March 1935; Jain, Bhavanagar, Vol 35 No. 3. Jvalatpradīpālikayā pravsddhayā, surāsuraih dīpitayā pradīprayā.
Tadā sma Pāvānagarī samantataḥ, pradīpitākāśatalā prakāśate. (66-19) Tatastu lokaḥprativarşamādasat prasiddha dīpālikapātra Bhārate. Samudyataḥ pūjayitum jineśvaraṁ jinendra nirvāņa vibhūtibhaktibhāk. (66-20)
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