To honour Shri Ram is to cultivate the same grace, doing what is right without bitterness and staying steady in the storm. The lamp outside is just a symbol; the real light has to come from within. When the mind is still, and when truth is more important than comfort, Diwali is no longer a date; it becomes the measure of one’s living.
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Originally published in The Sunday Guardian on 19 oct '25.
The deeper meaning of Diwali, emphasizing inner clarity, self-reflection, and living in accordance with Shri Ram’s values, arguing that true celebration comes from honesty, compassion, and spiritual awareness rather than outward display.
Diwali is said to mark the return of Shri Ram to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile: the triumph of truth and clarity over deceit and darkness. The lamps that were once lit to welcome him have become symbols of that inner victory. Yet today, while the lights have multiplied, the remembrance has faded. We celebrate his homecoming, but have we made space for him within? Every year, when Diwali comes, we light the lamps, adorn our homes, and give each other sweets and greetings. But somewhere, quietly, the question creeps up: Has any of this actually helped us see the light? The festival keeps coming back, as if to ask, “What kind of light have you lived by this year?” It’s normal to want to be joyful, but joy without understanding quickly becomes empty.
