Acharya Prashant critiques the modern celebration of Diwali by contrasting it with the life of Shri Ram, in whose honor the festival is observed. He points out that while Shri Ram lived in the jungle for fourteen years without any pre-arranged comforts, modern Diwali has become a festival of consumerism, centered around markets. He questions the logic of this, asking if Shri Ram was shopping for fourteen years and why people go on shopping sprees for his festival. He emphasizes the hardships Shri Ram faced, such as the lack of proper clothing, shelter, electricity, or even lamps in the jungle. The speaker further questions the practice of indulging in sweets during Diwali, asking if Shri Ram had access to delicacies like 'gujiya', 'barfi', or 'rasgulla' during his exile. He argues that if Shri Ram abstained from sweets for fourteen years, it is illogical for people to engage in such indulgence on his festival. He clarifies that Shri Ram's asceticism was not merely a product of his circumstances in the jungle; even after returning to the palace and becoming king, he lived a life of detachment, similar to his time in the forest. This detachment is further exemplified by the fact that upon gaining the kingdom, he had to part with Sita. Acharya Prashant highlights the character of Sita, describing her as a woman of immense faith, self-respect, fortitude, and capability. She never complained about her hardships or her eventual banishment by Shri Ram. Even when pregnant and being sent away, she did not question him but instead placed her faith in 'Ram' to save her. The speaker clarifies that she was referring not to her husband, the embodied Ram, but to the formless, attributeless Supreme Brahman. He concludes by urging the audience to embark on a year-long journey from this Diwali to the next to become worthy. He says that if one prepares for the next Diwali with honesty, every night will become a celebration. A single true Diwali, which requires changing oneself, can bring about a transformation that forty superficial ones could not.