As the fragrance of fresh sweets fills the air, markets dazzle with colors, and homes begin to sparkle with rows of diyas, Indians once again enter their most joyous and spiritually profound season—the festival of lights, Diwali. Scheduled this year for October 20, 2025, Diwali is not merely a cultural celebration; it is a festival that embodies the deepest moral and philosophical truths that have guided Indian civilization for millennia. It is the culmination of the long festive season that begins with Navratri and Dussehra, and it symbolizes the eternal victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
According to Hindu tradition, Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile and his victory over Ravana, the ten-headed king of Lanka who had abducted Rama’s wife, Sita. The people of Ayodhya, overjoyed at their beloved prince’s return, lit rows of oil lamps to illuminate the path home—a gesture that became a timeless symbol of welcoming goodness, righteousness, and divine justice back into the world. To this day, millions of Hindus across India and the diaspora reenact this ancient story through the Ramayana, celebrating it with fireworks, the exchange of gifts and sweets, and homes radiant with lights.
Yet, Diwali is not only an outward festival—it is an inward journey. Its true spirit calls for more than decoration and festivity; it demands reflection, introspection, and renewal. It asks of each of us: What is the Ravana within me?
For the tale of Rama and Ravana is not only history or mythology—it is also a moral allegory of the human condition. Within each of us, there exists both a Rama and a Ravana—the noble and the ignoble, the compassionate and the cruel, the selfless and the selfish. Every human being is a battlefield between these two forces. To light the lamp of Diwali is, therefore, not only to celebrate Rama’s victory in Ayodhya but also to kindle the flame of righteousness in our own hearts.
The symbolism of light conquering darkness extends far beyond religion. Light stands for truth, clarity, empathy, and awareness, while darkness represents ignorance, hatred, greed, and prejudice. In a world that is increasingly divided by race, religion, ideology, and economic disparity, Diwali offers a universal message: that humanity’s greatest triumphs come not through violence or domination, but through enlightenment—through the illumination of the mind and spirit.
The Sikh tradition offers a parallel and profound insight. Sikhs commemorate the same day as Bandi Chhod Divas, marking the return of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji from imprisonment, where he secured the release of fifty-two Hindu kings unjustly detained by the Mughal emperor Jahangir. It is thus a festival of freedom and compassion, emphasizing that true victory lies not in personal gain but in securing justice and liberty for others. The Sikh teaching, “Man jeete jag jeet”—he who conquers his mind conquers the world—reminds us that the most formidable enemy we face is not outside us but within.
Indeed, the human mind, if left unchecked, can be the most destructive force in existence. It breeds greed, jealousy, intolerance, and the hunger for power that have led to wars, exploitation, and suffering throughout history. Yet the same mind, when disciplined, guided by conscience and compassion, can be the source of boundless creativity, peace, and love. The battle for the mind, therefore, is the true Kurukshetra of modern life.
If humanity could collectively conquer this inner demon—this restlessness, anger, and self-centeredness—the world’s most pressing crises would lose their fuel. Conflicts between nations would subside, the cries of the impoverished would lessen, and the exploitation of nature would cease. Diwali, in this sense, becomes not a festival of indulgence, but a call to inner revolution.
As India and Indians around the world prepare for the celebrations—with bustling bazaars, glowing lanterns, and joyous family gatherings—let us not forget that the essence of the festival lies in light, not merely in illumination. Light is symbolic of truth and consciousness, qualities sorely needed in today’s times of disinformation and moral confusion.
The fireworks that brighten our skies should remind us of the radiance we must ignite within—the light of understanding and empathy that can outshine the darkness of prejudice and hatred. The exchange of sweets and gifts should reflect the sweetness of genuine goodwill and the generosity of spirit, rather than material display. The cleaning of our homes should be accompanied by the cleansing of our hearts—of grudges, bitterness, and apathy toward the suffering of others.
In our society today, evil rarely wears the face of Ravana. It is subtler and more pervasive—it takes the form of corruption, inequality, discrimination, and moral apathy. It thrives wherever there is silence in the face of injustice or indifference to human pain. To celebrate Diwali meaningfully, therefore, is to take a stand for truth and compassion in every sphere of life, from our homes to our public institutions.
In the Northern parts of India, where Diwali festivities reach their grandest scale, the enactments of the Ramayana—called Ramlila—draw thousands of spectators each year. But as we watch Rama’s victory unfold on stage, we must remember that the true Ramlila is played out daily in our own lives. Every moment we choose honesty over deceit, empathy over indifference, forgiveness over revenge, we allow Rama to triumph once again.
At its heart, Diwali is a festival of hope. In a time when the world seems consumed by wars, environmental crises, and moral decline, its lamps remind us that darkness, however deep, cannot endure when light is kindled. Just as one small flame can ignite countless others, one act of kindness, one word of truth, one moment of courage can transform the moral landscape around us.
So, as diyas are lit across India and the diaspora this October 20, let each flame be a vow—a vow to banish the darkness within and around us, to rise above selfishness and division, to nurture the divine in ourselves and others. Let Diwali not end with the extinguishing of the lamps, but let it live on in our conduct, in our compassion, and in our conscience.
May the light of Diwali 2025 dispel not only the night but also the inner shadows that blind humanity to truth and love. May it inspire us to build a world where the light of reason, the warmth of brotherhood, and the radiance of justice burn brightly and eternally.
For in conquering the darkness within, we achieve what Lord Rama symbolized—the true victory of good over evil, not in myth or memory, but in the living world.
“Man jeete jag jeet.”
He who conquers his mind conquers the world.
Let that be the spirit of this Diwali.
HAPPY DIWALI!
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