Deepavali signifies victory of light over darkness

Deepavali, the festival of joy and love, automatically fills every nook and cranny with light

Known as the festival of lights, Diwali or Deepavali is one of the most important Hindu festivals, celebrated both in and outside Sri Lanka. This year the festival will be celebrated on October 20 (Monday).

Deepavali signifies the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The festival starts 18 days after Dussehra.
According to Hindu mythology, this auspicious festival commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya with Sita and Lakshman after killing Ravana.

The festival generally begins with Dhanteras, the day to buy new things, especially things made of metals. It falls two days before Diwali. The festival ends two days after Diwali, which celebrates the brother-sister relationship.

Apart from Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya, it is also believed that the day symbolises the marriage of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu.

Even Lord Ganesha is worshipped by many Hindus on this occasion. The festival of joy and love automatically fills every nook and cranny with light. It is the time to buy new things for yourself and your loved ones.

From fireworks to sweets to diyas, Diwali is a colourful celebration of lights. 

Truly speaking the ‘exact and the deeper meaning’ of the celebration, is to “transform oneself to be spiritually uplifted”.

This can be achieved by “Spiritually illuminating the inner self by dispelling inner darkness, such as ignorance, anger, jealousy and hatred, through the “light of wisdom”, compassion and self-awareness.

In my opinion, religious and spiritual leaders must play an exemplary role to preach to their devotees, the ways to dispel the above-mentioned darkness and spiritually illuminate themselves, to lead a blissful life, which is the “need of the hour”, to our “Sri Lankans” as well as other global citizens.

The prime importance is that the leaders including spiritual leaders, irrespective of religions, must not display their “weakness”  “by getting provoked”, by petty issues but “remain calm and composed”, even during turbulence or crises period. Then perhaps, they can guide their flock or devotees to lead a happy, joyous, healthy, serene, tranquil and fulfilled life, which is the “need of the hour to our Motherland and the universe.

I strongly believe that one should practise what he/she preaches and spiritual leaders are “no exception”.

(The writer is the Former President of Young League for Sanathana Dharmic Perception (YLSDP), in Sri Lanka and the former Senior Advisor, Senior Lecturer, Senior Teacher Trainer, Head of the Pre- School and Chairman of Health Awareness Projects, of “Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar Hindu Religious School”, the Educational Wing of Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar Devasthanam, Colombo 13. He can be contacted via [email protected])

Hindus believe that Deepavali symbolises the marriage of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu