Capt Purushottam Sharma
“Astoma Sadgamya, Tamso Ma Jyotirgamya, Mritiyurmamritam Gamya”
From the unreal lead me to Real, from darkness lead me to Light, from death lead me to Deathlessness”, is our most cherished prayer.
Festivals are our spiritual and cultural resources which bring global current of harmony, solidarity and joy. Diwali or Deepavali is most elaborately celebrated all over the world wherever Indians reside. Deepavali falls on Kartik Amavasya, marking the end of ‘Krishna Pakshya’ (Dark fortnight) and dawn of bright fortnight. People invoke Maa Lakshmi (Lord Narayan’s consort), the Goddess of Wealth, to bestow her blessings and bring them fortunes and prosperity. Prior to this great day of celebrations and festivities, there is a large scale cleanliness drive and colorful decorations of home and community shrines, public buildings and monuments, business places, residential houses, surroundings, streets and even of vehicles. Beautiful Rangolis are drawn, colorful strings of electric lights and rows of candles / oil wick lamps are lit. Aesthetically decorated entry doors of residential houses are kept open to welcome Mother Lakshmi. It is believed that Mother does not visit dirty hearths and homes. She honors those who are neat and clean within and without.
It celebrates Lord Rama’s welcome to His Kingdom Ayodhya after victory over Ravana. It is also believed that it was on this day that Lord Krishna killed demon Narakasura who had let loose a reign of terror. Like Dussehra, Diwali is also an occasion of conquest of the good over the evil. People expressed their happiness and joy over the slay of demons and celebrated the occasions by lighting lamps, playing fireworks, enjoying festive foods and making tasteful decorations all over.
On the occasion of this, one of the largest celebrated festivals, people wear their best new clothes and jewellery. Women decorate their hands and feet with henna (‘mehndi’).
Varieties of sumptuous foods are prepared. Gifts and sweets are exchanged with nears and dears. Diwali greetings are extended to all those far and near and waves of love and joy are exprienced. Sharing sweets and dishes, forgetting and forgiving all past differences, people embrace and hug each other wishing Happy Diwali. Celebration of the festival is also related to joy and prosperity of farmers bringing home grains and expressing gratitude to mother nature that brought fruit to their hard work. On the occasion of Deepavali, Governments and employers honor their employees with bonus and gifts.
Those who indulge in gambling and drinking on this auspicious day incur displeasure of Mother Lakshmi. Such people mar the delight of celebrations and bring sorrows to their families, to themselves and to the community at large.
Diwali is a Holy festival of purity and love. Self Realization or spiritual perfection or True knowledge is symbolized by ‘Prakash’ (Light). The period preceding Deepavali represents our journey of earnest endeavor from darkness (ignorance) to Light (Knowledge of the Self, the most aspired for goal in life). As the dawn wipes out the darkness instanteously so with the appearance of the Wisdom the quest for Ultimate Knowledge culminates. There is a unique feeling of ecstasy. People plunge into exaltation exprienced through Love, Truth, Compassion and Selfless Service.
In our places of worship and on all auspicious occasions too,”Deepak” or ‘Jyoti’ or a Candle is kindled. On days of rejoicings and festivities, we put up various kinds of decorations with light. It is a sign of Purity, Divinity, Peace, Wisdom and Bliss. We lit ‘Akhand Jyoti’ for varied periods at several places and on many other occasions as sign of ‘Prakash (Illuminitation) that dispels ‘Andhkaar’ (Ignorance). In all congregations and Holy assemblies, while addressing prayers and singing glories of the Lord, ‘Jyoti’ (Light) is considered indispensable. Lord says in Srimad Bhagvad Gita—
“Tesamevanukampartham Ahama Jnanajam Tamah
Nasayamyatma Bhavastho Jnanadipena Bhasvata” (Ch X, 11)
‘To shower My grace on My devotees, I, by dwelling in their heart, destroy the darkness born of ignorance, with the refulgent Light of Knowledge’.
“Jyotisamapi Tajjayotistamasah Paramucyate
Jnanam Jneyam Jnanagamyam Hrdi Sarvasya Visthitam.” (Ch XIII, 17)
Light of all lights and beyond darkness He is the knowledge itself, worth-knowing to be gained only by real Knowledge; it is abiding in the hearts of all.’
St John said “God is Light and in Him there is no darkness”.
Deepavali reminds us of our duty and obligations towards God’s creation to share and care and mitigate their pains and sufferings caused by exploitation, economic inequality and injustice. “Serve them to worship God”. Feel the joy of giving, giving to lift up the less privileged. We Ought Not Be Lavish But Save to Serve the poor, orphans, widows, elders, destitute, handicapped, blind, crippled, naked and those who begging bowls stricken by distress and hopelessness. This is the noble way to propitiate the Mother of the Universe. The more we given the more we’ll have. We Must Pledge to Support as many as such needy persons/ units as many as we can throughout the year so that the wide gap of inequality is narrowed down steadily. It will then constitute a practice for the succeeding generations to strive for human welfare. Such a commitment will surely work wonders !
One way of saving worth crores is to deny use of crackers on this day and divert that money for social welfare. It will save the humanity from deadly pollution and enable use of savings for noble cause of feeding the hungry, covering the naked, caring the sick and comforting the destitute.
Celebration of Deepavali in Holy City of Amritsar is well known for its unmatched fervor and piety. On this auspicious day, we fondly remember and reach our brothers and sisters residing overseas who have been enriching the world with India’s Gift of Festivals. The illumination of White House, world’s most powerful seat, and celebration of this festival of lights there is a sure sign of realization of Divine Wish for solidarity and “Universal Brotherhood’, World is one family (‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’) indeed !
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