Diwali

Diwali, the festival of lights.

They say this is the day Lord Ram returned to his abode and entire Ayodhya was lit with diyas, to symbolize the brightness and hope rekindled in everyone's heart. Well, that is what they say. As a routine, almost every person purchases diyas, paints them, and then sets them around the house. Every family has their own set of poojas and God is not left out of this auspicious celebration. We buy lanterns, hang them outside our windows and make sure they glow bright. We shop for sweets and gifts, distribute them amongst our family and friends.

None of the aforementioned descriptions of Diwali have anything to do with the day itself. We say that we do it in remembrance of the people of Ayodhya and their king, but mainly for ourselves. We all need that little break, from routine, from life. So we use festivals as our personal excuse.

A lot of asking around made me realize this : there two kinds of people; people who celebrate festivals because its a tradition, not because it makes them happy and people who wouldn't mind celebrating everyday, just because it makes them happy. This may appear too dichotomous, but give it a thought. Where do you fit? Would you rather light a diya and stare at it than perform a Diwali pooja? Or would you fret all day, to make sure the pooja's perfect and spend your whole day whining?

Going back to the origins, Diwali was celebrated to honour the return of Lord Ram. It was a display of happiness, devotion and affection. That did not indicate that there wouldn't be any hardships or that the kingdom would live with justice for ever. It meant that come what may, their king shall be there to face it with valour and honour.



So, Diwali isn't the day to follow dogmatic routine. It is the day to be yourself, to remove the darkness from your heart and moreover, to welcome, with all your heart, the strength and courage that would be by your side, in every downfall, in every rise. 

Here are some photographs of my Diwali celebrations:

I had fun with the camera, while my brother had his share with the sparklers.


Here's me, with one of favourite symbols, the lemniscate. Photo credits: Dad

Some diyas. A very common Diwali sight.


Some lanterns in one of the uncountable stores.


And here's mine!




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