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Finding the True Meaning of Diwali
by Sharon Danisha M. Vaswani

DIWALI GREETINGS!

In today's troubled world where relationships are strained by differences, Diwali brings fresh hope to renew and strengthen these ties that bind us together... Diwali is one of the most festive and beautiful times of the year in the Hindu Calendar. The word Diwali is from the Sanskrit word Deepavali literally meaning a "Row of Lights." It is the night when lights and love fill the hearts and homes and there is rejoicing and celebrations to herald the triumph of good over evil. The reasons for celebrating Diwali are many. One is that it celebrates Lord Ram's glorious and long-awaited return to his Kingdom of Ayodhya after his fourteen long years of exile in the forest. Another is that it commemorates Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Naraksura who had kidnapped and terrorized the gopis (cow maidens) of Vrindavan. It is also celebrated as the day Lord Vishnu married Goddess Lakshmi. However, what is the true meaning of this festival? What does it truly signify? There are three main aspects of this auspicious day called Diwali. The first is the celebration of light which dispels the darkness of our ignorance and shows us the way on our journey through life. The purpose is not to glorify the light of the diya (candle) or the light of the firecracker lit on this day but it is to glorify the light of God. It is He who bestows the real light, the everlasting light upon the darkness of this mundane world. A candle burns out; a firework is a momentary visual experience. But, the candle of a still mind and the fireworks of a heart filled with bhakti (true devotion) are divine and eternal and these are what we should be celebrating. Hence, the true light of Diwali should be within us. Diwali also marks the beginning of a New Year. It is a day of "starting fresh". It is the time that begs the questions: When was the last time we swept out our hearts? When did we last empty them of all the dirt and garbage that has accumulated throughout our lives? That is the real cleaning we must do. That is the real meaning of "starting fresh." We must clean out our hearts, ridding them of darkness and bitterness; we must make them clean and sparkling places for God to live. We must be as thorough with ourselves as we are with our homes. Let us therefore, truly clean out our hearts and rid ourselves of the grudges, pain, and anger that clutter our ability to love freely. Let us empty out every nook and cranny, so that His divine light can shine throughout. The third, and perhaps most important, aspect of Diwali is the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. On Diwali we pray to her for prosperity; however this does not mean for material possessions only as it is only God's presence in our lives which makes us rich. We pray for an abundance of faith, not money; success in our spiritual lives, and for the love of God. Therefore, in its highest meaning, Goddess Lakshmi provides wealth for sustenance, not for indulgence. Our material wealth and prosperity should only sustain us, giving us that which is necessary to preserve our lives and all surpluses should be used for humanitarian causes. Lakshmi is typically portrayed wearing red. And as red is the color of action, this means that in order to obtain the true prosperity in life, we must engage in action. We must engage ourselves in active, good service; that is truly the way to be with Him. So, on this Diwali day, let us fill our entire beings with the light of God. Let us clean out our minds and hearts, making a true "fresh start." Let us pray to Goddess Lakshmi to bestow the divine gifts of faith, purity and devotion upon us. With those, we will always be always rich, always prosperous, and always fulfilled. Let us celebrate Diwali this year as a true "holy day," not only as another frivolous "holiday."

HAPPY DIWALI TO ONE AND ALL!