DIWALI…hoping to light up the darkness of the human mind around the world currently

By Sagar H

The origin of Diwali, its significance and varied forms of celebration across the world is interesting. Make this Diwali your most special one yet…

ONE of the most awaited festivals of India is here with its air of festivity and anticipation. This festival always kindles nostalgia with the oil lamps flickering away in the dark of the night, bursting of firecrackers and in each home an array of mouth- watering sweets along with various rites of puja and thanksgiving.
Diwali is celebrated across the world today and mainly in India and also other countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, etc. Wherever there is a Hindu population there is the celebration of Diwali which is also linked with other associated religions like say Jainism, Buddhism or Sikhism in some way. The festival is one of the oldest in the world dating back more than 2,500 years.
A Sanskrit play written during the reign of Harsha called Nagananda in the 7th Century AD portrays a festival celebrated with lights. Or the lighting of oil lamps or terracotta diya or any other diya. The festival doesn’t have a clear origin that can be traced except that all efforts point to folklore and ancient texts and legends.
According to some the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, incarnated on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month during the churning of the ocean (samudra-manthan), hence the association of Diwali with Lakshmi puja or “pujan.” This belief is prevalent in the northern areas of India. In religious mythology it marks the return of the Pandavas from exile.
Coming to Goa it is more a celebration of the time or day when Lord Krishna killed the demon Narkasur and rescued several thousand women in captivity. In Kerala, people believe their beloved King Bali was granted redemption by Lord Vishnu and the king visits his homeland every year to be with his people.
The festival as has been earlier mentioned primarily marks Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after the war with King Ravan of Sri Lanka. The Sikh community mark this day as a day of freedom and also celebrate it as the day they received thewir Guru’s blessings. For the Jains the day marks the day of “nirvana” or liberation of their Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara. Buddhists celebrate the day as Deep Daan Utsav following Buddha’s last words: “Atta Deepo Bhava” which which means “Be thy own light.”
Equally, the festival or season of Diwali is also connected with India’s early agrarian society and it marks the completion of the kharif harvest season! So you see, each part of India celebrates Diwali in its own unique manner, with ritualistic puja from Laxmi Puja, Ganga Snaan, burning the effigy of Narkasur, ancestral worship and the lighting up of oil diya. Diwali takes on its own meaning for all of us as we perceive and believe in it.
The festival is of course veiled by aspects of politics, socio-religious issues, the overload of content, the pandemic, the financial motives of businesses and the practice of social distancing. In current times it may seem the meaning and significance of Diwali seems has become hazy for some Indians!
But a moment of introspection into the true values signified by the celebration of Diwali will banish the darkness from life and usher in enlightenment of wisdom. Several historical and cultural events coincide with the celebration of Diwali and ushering in auspicious beginnings. To some it may mean arrival of wealth and good fortune, to some it may be a reason to return home to their families, to some it may be political opportunities and to some – a date with the divine.
It brings us to the question: How do I celebrate Diwali with the right intent, the right way and perform the right action? How can I light a diya and dispel the darkness?
The answer: I do not know! But I wish to experience it like my first ever Diwali, not knowing anything about it, with childlike enthusiasm, the heart of a lover and the love of a mother. Maybe a fresh perspective is needed for a fresh start. So let us watch Lord Rama return anew and let’s watch Narkasur burn to ashes – and celebrate Diwali in its true sense. Let us witness the light it brings into our life and everyone’s life!