Dear Diwali, you’re a Firework
Diwali. As soon as I hear the word Diwali, an image of lights, sweets, gifts, overcrowded markets, and an overwhelming sense of happiness comes to mind. Diwali is one of the biggest festivals celebrated across India. I personally love Diwali because I love the rush it gives you, what with all the preparations for the festival a week before. If you ask my mother, rule number one of celebrating Diwali is making sure the entire house has been cleaned beforehand. Then and only then, we move on to our shopping spree.
In religious context, Diwali is celebrated because it is the homecoming of Lord Rama (Lord Vishnu’s seventh avatar) with his wife Sita after rescuing her from the shackles of the demon king Ravana. Lord Rama killed Ravana and with that, the good won over the evil. The Ramayana is one of the longest epics in the Hindu scriptures and narrates the story of Lord Rama and his journey on earth as a human avatar of Lord Vishnu, one of the trinity. The Ramayana is believed to have taken place some 7000 years ago, but its significance has only grown over the years. To understand Diwali, one needs to understand why it is celebrated and why it holds a significant place in the lives of many Hindus.
If you read the Ramayana or see it depicted on screen or on stage, you’ll notice that even though Lord Rama was a God, even if in human form, His life was full of perils and constant struggle. Lord Rama was the heir to His father’s throne. One of the king’s wives wanted her son to be king, so she persuaded Lord Rama’s father to send him into exile. Lord Rama and His wife were living in a forest while in exile and that’s when Ravana abducted her and flew away to his kingdom, Lanka (now Sri Lanka). Now the problem was, even after knowing that Sita was in Lanka, Lord Rama had to cross an ocean to get there which was impossible for him to do alone. So he gathers an army of apes and monkeys with the help of His friends, builds a bridge across the Indian ocean, and embarks on a mission to save Sita, which he does by killing Ravana.
The defeat of the demon king is often personified as the death of the dark by the light. Lord Rama represents all things good in a human being, he’s the epitome of an ideal human being, he’s righteous, kind, a just ruler, respectful of others, and wise. Ravana, on the other hand, represents all things that pull a person to the dark side, he’s arrogant, cruel, has no regard for his kingdom, doesn’t respect anyone, well the list goes on. If you look at the story closely, it has some wonderful takeaways for everyone. The Ramayana shows that people who walk on the path of honesty and righteousness do usually have a hard time in life but they will always find help and support from the universe to get through those struggles. It is also a story depicting great love, sacrifice, deep bonds of friendship, and devotion. The story also shows how faith can change destiny, because I always wondered, how did an entire army of monkeys just follow in the path carved out by Lord Rama. Wasn’t there a single soul in this community who had second thoughts and doubted the feasibility of the plan? You see, that is the power of faith, it gives you the courage to believe in the impossible.
Every year, Indians celebrate Diwali with an eagerness as if Lord Rama is coming home this very year instead of those 7000 years ago. A traditional Diwali day includes people decorating their homes, preparing delicious food, dressing up, and visiting their friends and family. Diwali is essentially a festival of togetherness, of belongingness and oneness with each other and with the universe.
What I love about Diwali is that even though it ‘s called ‘the festival of lights’, it’s more to do with the generosity of the human heart. Really, if Diwali is approaching, everybody is in such an elated mood that people buy anything, gift anything and show acts of kindness by helping those around us celebrate the festival with equal fervor.
For me, Diwali in itself doesn’t hold much appeal. Rather it is the anticipation of Diwali that makes me thrive. I think all of us revel in the never-ending preparations for Diwali. At my house, we’re always running last-minute errands because somebody forgot to buy the flowers or my parents suddenly remembered to include somebody new in our celebrations, which in turn, requires a new gift. I always joke that nothing is ‘extra’ on Diwali, everything is just right. No matter how many lights you decorate your house with or how many sweetmeats you stuff your mouth with, there’s always room for some more.
The amazing thing about Diwali is that it gives you a chance to be a better version of yourself. The very essence of Diwali resides in the kind and loving part of a human being. Diwali presents all of us with an opportunity to turn over a new leaf and start being kind towards each other by caring for one another and bringing a smile to each other’s faces. India is a country where our language and culture change every few miles and yet, all of us come together to celebrate Diwali. Maybe Diwali is one giant invisible thread that binds us all together, making us embrace our differences and illuminating the light within.
