Acharya Prashant addresses a question about the relationship between religion (Dharma) and culture (Sanskriti), and the nature of a religious Diwali versus a cultural one. He begins by explaining that culture is the way common people live, their methods of interaction, sleeping, waking, architecture, and greetings. Culture is essentially about behavior and is a familial and social heritage, not something an individual invents. These ways of life are passed down by family and society. Ideally, the basis of all action (karma) should be understanding (bodh). Since culture is a matter of behavior (action), its foundation should be Dharma. Just as any action should arise from consciousness, the entire edifice of culture should be built upon the foundation of Dharma. However, the current situation is inverted. The foundation of our culture has become tradition (parampara) and heritage (virasat), not Dharma. Consequently, culture has drifted far from Dharma, with Dharma being reduced to a small, superficial part of culture. Our culture is derived from what was done in the past, but it is also constantly changing, not due to Dharma, but due to various other influences. When Dharma is not the foundation, culture is influenced by worldly forces, leading to things like Westernization. This culture, rooted in ignorance, equates happiness with pleasure and consumption, which is the cause of global crises like climate change. We take pride in a culture that lacks a spiritual foundation. For example, dressing a child as Krishna for Janmashtami with a plastic flute and a peacock feather plucked violently from a peacock is a superficial act, not true culture. What we call Indian culture is often a mix of foreign influences, such as Mughal and Victorian, which are not rooted in Sanatana Dharma. The speaker asserts that our culture is in need of reform and a proper foundation, which is Dharma. A truly religious Diwali would be a festival of renunciation (tyaag). It would mean getting closer to the real Shri Ram, which involves reading and understanding scriptures like the Ramayana and Yoga Vashistha. The true celebration of Diwali is to bring the real Shri Ram (Truth) into our lives by expelling all that is worthless from our homes and minds. This aligns with the prayer 'Asato Ma Sadgamaya,' which is a call to move from the unreal to the real. A real Diwali is a festival of renunciation and cleansing, not just of the house, but of the mind.