Diwali, most know it as the festival of lights but for me, it symbolizes togetherness, joy, peace and imminent hope in the dark periods of anyone’s life!

Traditionally we celebrate Diwali as a remembrance of Lord Shri Ram returning to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshman in Hindu culture but this is not one of the cases where people exclusively take part in the festivities religiously. People of all walks of life regardless of religion, caste or age join in to burst crackers, exchange sweets and wish each other the eternal “Happy Diwali!”. One more fact to note about the festival is that the date changes every year and it falls on the night of Amavasya or the moonless night, which gives it all the more meaning. The light from the diyas and crackers illuminate the night in the absence of moonlight. If you ask me- this shows us how the hope (represented by light) inside of each of us can dispel doubt, sorrow or fear (represented by the darkness of the night) which hinders our senses with the will to do so.

But what sets apart Diwali? Well, one thing is that there aren’t any religious boundaries that must be followed. This lets everyone celebrate it without having to hold back due to restriction of belief. Diwali is one of the festivals that incorporates enjoyment with conservation, not allowing the fun-looking crackers and sweets to distract us from the true essence of its meaning. Another factor which makes it a unique festival is the ambiguity it carries. Just as I said that Diwali shows me hope in times of darkness, it could mean victory over an adversary to someone else, justice served for another or even just a celebration of happiness to many. However, no matter what you predict its meaning as; I feel pretty sure we can all agree it radiates positivity all around.

All in all, after being in a sedentary lifestyle since almost two years, I hope this time Diwali can give us all a boost into better times and unite us as one. So do keep a lookout for November 4th this year and wish all your friends and family a prosperous and happy Diwali!