To My Fellow Hindu Brothers and Sisters,
As Hindus, we are taught from our Vedas that contentment is the highest form of happiness. Inner peace and happiness seem to be a thing of the past; earthly material acquisitions (Maya) have encompassed our lives which has made the struggle of being genuinely at peace with one’s self unattainable. Acknowledging that we need divine help to make us truly contented is the first step of creating a balanced and peaceful life.
Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is that time of the year when all Hindus celebrate by cleaning their homes, making rangolis, lighting diyas, praying and cooking sweet meats to share with friends and families. In Guyana and New York, motorcades depict the stories of Maha Laxhmi Maa and Shree Raama’s return to Ayodhya. This, over the years, has become a sober social activity for people of all walks of life where they are able to enjoy the brightly lit floats that highlight the festivities. Little girls and boys revel in the idea of being dressed as Maha Laxhmi and Vishnu to be on the floats as they travel along the route. It is an auspicious time that Hindus venerate the Goddess of Light known throughout the world as Mahaa Laxhmi.
The celebration is not just about lighting lamps around the home. As human beings, I believe that we all should strive to experience this ‘light’ internally. This ‘light’ can come in many forms; wealth, knowledge, health, wisdom, freedom, peace and happiness. The level of the various forms of this ‘light’ that we seek varies from person to person, depending on their unique lifestyle. It is our choice of light that steers the type of life we live. Our choices can vary however; the end result shall be to attain salvation (Moksha) while we are alive on earth. Additionally, this ‘light’ that we celebrate at Diwali can also represent clarity, which is achieved through self- introspection and the understanding of how the body and mind work to become a good human being. Without clarity, every other quality that you possess will only become a detriment, not a gift, because confidence without clarity of thoughts is a disaster.
Diwali also emulates a sense of togetherness and unity which showcases the qualities of civilized beings in all strata of society. The ancient text of Hinduism states that together we stand, divided we fall. There are numerous stories in history that teaches us about unison and harmony being
triumphant over divisiveness and dissention. With this in mind, I urge you all to forget about past misdeeds and forgive those who have wronged you so that you can move on with life in serenity.This forgiving nature empowers and strengthens us which ultimately brings us closer to God. Only the strong can forgive.
This Diwali, I encourage you, our readers, to reflect on the light in your life and be grateful for your blessings. I pray you are given the strength to forgive those who have harmed you and that you find supreme beatitude in your daily life. The life you live now and the karma performed will determine where the soul (aatman) will go in its journey to the next life; hence, see yourself in others, for what goes around comes around. May this Diwali brighten your life and fill your home with prosperity, happiness, and love. Shubh Diwali!
