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The night is black

Kindle the lamp of LOVE

With thy life and devotion.

- Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore

The word "Diwali", a corruption of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali", meaning a row of lights (Deepa = light; Avali = row), symbolises the traditional of our country, which teaches us to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge.

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Diwali is celebrated for a period of five days on a nation-wide scale to culminate on Amavasya, the 15th day of the dark fortnight of Kartik (the Hindu month coinciding with October/November). Diwali in general and each of its days are associated with several myths, legends and beliefs. Illumination forms its main attraction and every home - however poor or rich - glows with orange twinkling diyas (clay or earthen lamps) lit to welcome Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Clay lamps also indicates the victory of Light over Darkness, Good over Evil, as well as the victory of Truth over Falsehood and that we can succeed only through our virtues.

The preparations for Deepavali begins well in advance with people decorating their homes, preparing sweets and farsans and buying new clothes and jewellery to welcome the Goddess into their homes. Multi-coloured Rangoli drawn with coloured powders or rice flour designs, floral decorations and fireworks lend grandeur to this festival, which heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuring year.

Diwali is celebrated on a grand scale in almost all the regions of India and is looked upon by many communities as the beginning of a New Year. As such the blessings of Lakshmi, the celestial consort of Lord Vishnu are invoked with prayers. Even countries like Kenya, Thailand, Trinidad, Siam and Malaya celebrate this festival, but each with very individual styles.

Evenings are the time to view the splendour of Diwali when most homes are lit up with oil lamps and flashy electric bulbs of several types. Several communities consider Diwali to be incomplete without fireworks, especially children who burst a variety of crackers - sparkles, flowerpots, rockets to fancy and loud noise-making bombs. This is unfortunately the dark side of Diwali.

 

Increased air and noise pollution affects infants, old and ailing, those with breathing or bronchial problems and animals especially stray dogs and donkeys, which fall prey to the nuisance of errant kids and youth. Another deviation of the firecracker industry is Child Labour and the annual deaths of several hundred children employed in these factories. With several such pressing problems of urban existence teaming against tender interpersonal relationships, celebrating Diwali assumes prime importance in maintaining bonds between families and acquaintances, as these are days of food-sharing, gift-giving and reaching out to the inner most depths of our hearts.

Fortunately, increased awareness has seen sensible interpretations of the festival of light and beauty, by encouraging artistic expressions through home-decorations, stage plays, elocution, singing and dancing competitions, making gift-items and making delectable sweets thereby discovering new talents of younger people. As a result innumerable communities with varying cultures and customs mingle together to make Diwali celebrations a very happy occasion for all.

Diwali on the whole has transformed into a festival with more social than religious connotations, becoming a personal, people-oriented festival when enemities are forgotten, families and friends meet, enjoy and establish a word of closeness. So hope you too joined together in spreading the LIGHT and GOOD CHEER and in making the world a better place. A place where there's no room for darkness, for ignorance.