Diwali, for most people, must be a festival of austerity, of repentance. We must, on this day, offer our prayers to Shri Rama and say, “We are very sorry, O Holy One! We are extremely sorry. We couldn’t live by your life, your message, your teachings. We are very sorry. We will observe this day as a day of repentance.”

We do not deserve to celebrate. What is there to celebrate in our life? Festival of lights befits those who have light, first of all, in their lives. If our lives are full of darkness, what right do we have to light the candles and the diyas (earthen lamps) and the Chinese bulbs?

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