Oct 24, 2022
What is Diwali to You?
Diwali is Homecoming.
“Diwali for me resembles homecoming. It is proof of the fact that beyond the dense forests, there is a home waiting to embrace me even in the darkest of nights with a flame of diya.”
For Hindus, Diwali marks the triumphant return of Lord Rama to his home after 14 years of exile in the forests and the eventual defeat of the cruel Ravana. As well, Lord Krishna’s victory over the evil demon king, Narakasura. For Sikhs, Diwali (*Bandi Chor Diwas) highlights the release of the sixth Guru Hargobind Singh and 52 princes from the Gwalior Fort prison of the fourth Mughal emperor, Jahangir. For Jains, it is a time to celebrate Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, and the moment he reached a state of enlightenment.
Diwali is symbolic of the victory of knowledge and good over ignorance and evil. It is the epitome of resilience and prosperity. It marks the advent of new beginnings.
Life gives lemons for a reason. The hardships we face in the journey of life are the climax of His great plans. Ravana would have continued to torment people for centuries if Ram had not been unjustifiably deprived of his kingdom. 52 innocent princes would have rotted in jail if Jahangir had not chosen to be completely unscrupulous.
Similarly, the black blanket enveloping the sky after every fortnight sets the stage for the new moon to lighten up the following nights. Everything happens for a reason. Diwali, for me, resembles homecoming. It is proof of the fact that beyond the dense forests, there is a home waiting to embrace me even in the darkest of nights with a flame of diya. It is the hope that the good will ultimately triumph and the light of justice will eventually find its course.
What does Diwali mean to You?
Happy Diwali! Happy Bandi Chor Diwas! ❤️
