Lighting Lives : Finding the True Spirit of Diwali

Lighting Lives : Finding the True Spirit of Diwali
Diwali has always been very special, the most awaited festival on the calendar. It's a celebration of light which not only glows from hundreds of diyas but radiates in our hearts.
No wonder the ancient prayer, “तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय”, Lead me from darkness to light resonates with it  so profoundly. This shloka from the Upanishads captures the soul of Diwali : a festival when light conquers darkness, knowledge triumphs over ignorance, and hearts overflow with warmth, gratitude, and hope.
As a child, Diwali was pure, simple, heartfelt joy. It meant new clothes, neatly folded and waiting before the  family puja room to be worn with joy. It was the scent of homemade bakshanam (sweets and savouries) that filled the house for days. And, of course, the exhilarating ritual of "Baataa Baati" ( बाटा बाटी)—the exciting cracker division with my siblings, where your share was meticulously calculated by age and personal choice.
The most memorable part, however, started before dawn: the sacred Ganga Snanam (oil bath). My father would wake us up in the pre-dawn darkness. Applying the warm, slightly medicinal oil before a head bath symbolised the removal of negativity and a fresh purification.
Half-asleep yet buzzing with excitement, we would reluctantly allow our mother to apply the oil. Those days shikakai powder brought from Chennai was used for washing our hair, its earthly fragrance filling the air. Shikakai has now been replaced by fancy shampoo bottles, yet they cannot erase the memory, nor the feeling of love that binds us together.
I miss my parents a lot especially on Diwali morning. Those were the days of innocence when joy was simple, and togetherness was sufficient.
Today, our lives are scattered across cities and worlds where  reconnecting our hearts through calls, texts, and shared memories seems to be the only hope.
Diwali is celebrated across India with such rich diversity, and it tells so many stories:

• In Tamil Nadu, Naraka Chaturdashi takes centre stage, marking Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura.
 • In Maharashtra, the five-day festival begins with Vasu Baaras (honouring the cow), Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Poojan and also includes Bhau Beej, celebrating the unbreakable bond of sibling love.

• In the North, it marks the joyous return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya and victory over evil spanning.over Choti Diwali,  Badi Diwali and Bhai Dooj.
The traditions may vary, but the message is universal : the light of goodness must always conquer the darkness within and around us. Also we must continue to celebrate the festive with the same innocence, love, and faith our parents taught us for that is the real heritage of Diwali
The lamps we light are symbols of gratitude for the abundance we are blessed  by God. But even as we celebrate and affectionately decorate our homes, we must not forget those whose lives remain dim in the darkness. Each one of us could do something to turn our personal celebration into a truly meaningful one.
The greatest joy will come from lighting another’s life whether by sharing sweets with the poor, gifting a new shirt or clothes to a needy family, or simply offering time and kindness to the lonely, each small act could become a diya that brightens another person’s world. When we extend that warmth beyond our own door, we embody the true spirit of the festival.. So, this Diwali , let the light not just illuminate our own houses but also our hearts. For when we light another’s lamp, our own shines  brighter.

P.S How will you light another person's lamp this Diwali?  Please do share your thoughts in the comments...

R.Vimala,IAS,

Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra 

Compassionate Civil Servant & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Mumbai