The Times Kuwait Report
Diwali, or the Festival of Lights is arguably the biggest and brightest of festivals celebrated in the Indian subcontinent and among the Indian diaspora spread across the four corners of the world.
Diwali is concurrent with and analogous to various other religious, spiritual and historical celebrations marked by other nations, communities, cultures and religions in the region and around the world.
In India, while the religious aspect of Diwali is the highlight of the festival for Hindus, to the adherents of Sikh and Jain faith it is respectively the historical and sacred implications of the festival that take center-stage.
Besides its religious, cultural or historical importance to people across the vast sub-continent, and the contextual differences of the celebration, Diwali remains symbolic of the inner light that guides us throughout our life. The festival resonates with the message of the ultimate victory of light over darkness, of hope over despair, of good over evil, of knowledge over ignorance.
The symbolism of light has been prevalent in cultures throughout the evolution of humanity. It is one of the oldest and among the most significant and enduring icons, with spiritual, mystical and metaphorical connotations to various cultures and religions around the world.
Throughout the eons, among gnostics as well as those with agnostic leanings, light has been seen as a symbol of life and hope, of joy and happiness, of truth, wisdom, guidance, enlightenment, and as an embodiment of divinity. In many parts of the world, light is represented with candles, lamps, fires and fireworks that represent the victory of light in its perpetual opposition to darkness.
In India, the origin of Diwali can be traced back historically to the ancient period, when it was celebrated during the Hindu calendar month of Karthika as an important harvest festival. Over time, various legends and myths from the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata were associated and celebrated along with the early agrarian festival.
The word Diwali comes from a fusion of two Sanskrit words, Dipa or Deepa meaning light or lamp, and Awali meaning a row, series or line. In many parts of India, the festival is celebrated by lighting rows of small earthen- oil lamps called diyas that symbolize the driving away of darkness. In other parts of India, the Festival of Light marks the start of a new year in the Hindu calendar.
In many areas, Diwali has taken on a more temporal note, with merchants, retailers and corporates using the festival to market and sell their products. Today, the five-day long Festival of Lights has become almost synonymous with shopping frenzy, of bargain offers and special discounts, as well as a time of socializing and entertaining among family and friends.
Like any major festival, preparations for Diwali begin days or weeks ahead, with the formal festival limited to five-days, beginning two days before the night of Diwali, and ending two days after. Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell.
Sweet treats are exchanged, houses are thoroughly cleaned, homes are lit with diyas and decorated with rangoli, the colorful designs and patterns created on the threshold of homes and on the floor during the festival using natural colors, dyes, flowers and other material. New clothes are worn and each day of the festival is marked by different traditional rituals.
Through all this celebration and festivities, what remains true and consistent throughout the five days of Diwali, is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness. This year, even if you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali as it is celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, take a moment to light a candle or a diya, sit quietly, close your eyes, breathe deeply and concentrate on that supreme light which illuminates your inner self and guides you along the rightful path in life.
