The Indian Festival of Lights
In Indian culture, every Pournima (Full Moon Day) holds a special significance and each Pournima is associated with a festival or a religious significance (Read the article on Pournima). Diwali, however, seems to be an exception.
The Diwali is perhaps the only major Indian festival to be celebrated on an Amavasya (New Moon Day). The Sun & the Moon are also called the ‘Luminaries’, or the providers of light. However, on the Diwali day, astrologically, they are probably not at their best positions. Not only is it an Amavasya festival, it is also the time when the Sun is debilitated in the sign of “Tula” or Libra and the New Moon joins him. As a matter of fact, it appears strange that the Festival of Lights is celebrated when the giver of Light, viz. Sun is at the sign of his debilitation and therefore weak & on a day when the nights are the darkest (No Moon night).
Why is it then that we chose these days to celebrate and why do we then call it the festival of lights? The rationale here seems to be that the universal soul or the ‘Atman’ is ever shining and is not affected by these temporary worldly occurrences. Besides, it is up to each one of us, to make the effort & strive to remove the darkness & ignorance and lighten up our lives. Diwali signifies that no matter how long the darkness lasts, truth and enlightenment always wins. This fact is supported by various myths & stories of Diwali – the return of Sri Rama from 14 years of Vanavaas, or the victory over the evil Narakasura and several other stories.
We therefore light up our homes and the cities with lamps, diyas, lanterns signifying that truth and enlightenment eventually wins over darkness and ignorance.
HAPPY DIWALI
May this Festival of Lights brighten our lives with Happiness & Peace!