Happy Diwali – Celebrating The Light Within

Dear Readers,

With the Festival of Lights just a couple of days away, the festive season descends upon us all in full swing! And we welcome it with greater enthusiasm, as if in a bid to make up for the having missed out on the festivities over the past couple of years, due to the pandemic, which kept us away from celebrating the nation’s most celebrated festival – Diwali – in the company of friends and family.

There will be millions of diyas lit across India and the globe, as we celebrate the victory of good over evil, the triumph of light over darkness, the overall restoration of faith in the fairness of the universe. Often, the essence or the intended connotation of a festival tends to get lost amidst all the rituals, which seem more exciting because of all the activities that make it way more fun and entertaining. Which is just fine. But it would be a shame if we were to lose out on imbibing the actual meaning and simply partaking of the superfluous. That would be like missing the woods for the trees.

Just like the essence of Christmas lies is the spirit of giving, the essence of this resplendent festival is more than revering the story of Lord Ram’s exile coming to an end after he vanquishes the evil Ravana. The true triumph of ‘good over evil’ and of ‘light over darkness’ begins from within us… in our ability to identify the negative thoughts or emotions or feelings that we have stored and nurtured within us… and to consciously remove these from within. That is when there will be light within us.

When we wilfully break the vicious cycle of selfishness and insecurities, and learn to extend our hearts to others and show real compassion… that is when there will be light within us. When we bow our heads in genuine gratitude to the universe for all it has so kindly granted us, without following it up with that ‘wish-list’… that is when there will be light within us. When we follow the simple yet profound life-path laid down by our glorious Prophet Zoroaster – Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds… that is when the light within will shine so bright, it will illuminate a pathway for others to find their way out of the darkness.

It is said true beauty lies not in the glowing skin, it lies in the shining soul, and, in the words of Maya Angelou, “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.”

Wish you all a Happy Diwali! May the light within you shine on brighter than ever!

 

Have a good weekend!

– Anahita