That time of year has come around again, when various religions celebrate their festivals with joy and gaiety. Sikhs and their Sindhi brethren celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanakji. Christians commemorate and remember their dead on November 2, All Souls’ Day.
The Hindus celebrate Durga Puja, and in quick succession, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja, Jagaddhatri Puja and Chhat Puja. But almost all religions and cultures celebrate the festival of Deepawali, the Festival of Light, at this time, in their own individual ways.
While each religion has its distinct traditions, cultures and practices, different from those of other religions, the festival of Deepawali is a rich yet constant and commonly shared celebration. Indeed, Deepawali is a cosmic festival, celebrating peace and harmony, joy and togetherness, as well as the defeat of darkness and evil by God, the eternal Light and Life.
The celebration of Deepawali goes back to very ancient times, perhaps originating in a harvest festival. There are several legends associated with this celebration.
In north India, it commemorates the celebration of Rama’s victory over Ravana, and his return to Ayodhya, marking the triumph of good over evil, and the victory of light over darkness.
In Gujarat and Maharashtra, homage is paid to Devi Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Also, Lord Ganesha is welcomed and worshipped because he brings success to business and enterprises.
In the south, it marks the victory of Krishna and his wife Rukmini over Narakasura.
In Bengal, Deepawali coincides with the puja of goddess Kali. It celebrates her triumphant overcoming of darkness and the fear of death.
The Jains celebrate Deepawali to mark the enlightenment of mankind, lifting them out of the Stygian gloom of ignorance and darkness.
The Sikhs celebrate Deepawali to commemorate the return of the sixth Guru, Hargovind Singhji, from the Gwalior fort to the holy city of Amritsar on release from wrongful imprisonment by Jehangir, between 1617 and 1619, symbolising understanding, peace and freedom.
The celebration is usually at the time of the new moon when the night is dark. It is said that on such a night, Rama was welcomed into Ayodhya with diyas; and so perhaps the tradition of illuminating the night with diyas and, nowadays, with electric lamps of varying shape, size and decoration.
And of course we cannot forget the symphony of crackers, or cacophony, as others might describe it. But there is a deeper, meaningful symbolism to the festival of light and sound: put very simply, it signals the victory of God over Evil as an assurance that ultimately truth will triumph, and light will overcome darkness.
In Indian and even in other traditions, light is seen in conflict with and finally overcoming the forces of darkness and evil. It also symbolises the illuminating presence of God within and the awakening of inner consciousness that results from this. In this illumination of consciousness, there is also an awakening to the harsh realities of the darkness of oppression, injustice, corruption, and all the many other ubiquitous evils.
Our national motto “Satyameva Jayate”, or, “Truth will triumph”, pithily expresses the essential spirit of the festival of Deepawali.
So, a number of questions arise: what is the significance of this festival for us; where do we stand as far as good and evil, and darkness and light are concerned?
Good and evil seem to coexist everywhere around us in various ways and various forms.
We experience goodness in our life in people who are God-fearing and honest, and who care and are concerned about others. The persons who give their blood to save someone they may not even know; the persons who forget self in their desire to sacrifice for the good of others; the persons who are ready to walk that extra mile and do that little bit more to make a difference: they are the shining lights that illuminate the lives of others with joy and blessing and goodness, and in doing so they bring God’s life in and to themselves and in and to others.
At the same time, we also see and experience very strongly the presence of evil all around us. Evil is so very powerful and all-pervasive. It is full of deceit. It comes in various shapes and sizes. It manifests itself at any time and place. As we see the demon, Mahishasura, changing shape and form to deceive, so, in life, evil changes its forms and deceives people. It tries to overcome good and blurs our conscience to retard our ability to tell good from evil!
Again, as there are good persons of manner, deportment and breeding, so also there are others who wear the garb of gentility to deceive and lie and mislead, and to sow hatred and division. Evil is the person posing as a Samaritan to help an elderly clueless woman from a village only to make-off with all her money. Evil is the person posing as the helpful neighbour but waiting for the opportune moment, showing his true colours of evil intent. People such as these bring and perpetuate evil in the world and in our lives.
The challenge for us, for all who follow the Light, is to overcome evil and its legion army with our goodness, patience, kindness, and forgiveness. By turning the other cheek, we can reach out to such people with the healing touch and so change and transform their lives. Goodness is not an iron fist of revenge or retribution, but the gentle, assuaging touch of understanding and forbearance.
Then the followers of evil, opposed to the Real, to Light, to Life itself, will become the torch bearers of Light and Life themselves, their goodness illuminating the Darkness around them. Then it is that Truth and Light triumph, and God’s kingdom will be established. Then we can chant together the aspirations of the Deepawali celebrations:
Asatoma satyam gamaya
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
Mrityor ma amritam gamaya
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti!!!
(Brihadaranyaka Upanisad, 1.3.28).
Fr Dominic Savio is the principal of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata