Acharya Prashant responds to a question about the meaning of festivals in India. He begins by stating that for the common person, the meaning of a festival is simply to have fun. This is true not just in India but worldwide. However, India is known as the land of festivals, with a festival for almost every day of the year. The speaker points out that in India, festivals often become an excuse to stop meaningful work. He gives an example of how his educational courses would be disrupted by long festival holidays like Dussehra and Diwali, which could last for a month. In contrast, at premier institutions like IITs and IIMs, holidays are minimal because the pursuit of knowledge is considered the real festival. The true light is the light of knowledge, not just lamps. The speaker criticizes the commercialization of festivals, questioning the connection between religious occasions like Diwali and discounts on items like washing machines. He argues that festivals should be a celebration of meaningful action (karma). One should celebrate only after achieving something worthwhile. He questions the right to celebrate Shri Ram's festival if one's own life is like Ravana's. Shri Ram's life was one of constant struggle and fearlessness; he renounced his throne for truth and dignity and later gave up the golden city of Lanka. The speaker asks how such a life can be associated with consumerism. Acharya Prashant explains that the true meaning of a festival is to first live a righteous life and then celebrate. If one's heart is filled with love for truth and dharma, then every day is Holi and every night is Diwali. He quotes the Upanishadic prayer "Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya" (Lead me from darkness to light), explaining that it refers to the inner light of knowledge, not external lamps. He concludes that our festivals have become shallow because our religiosity is shallow. We use festivals as an excuse to escape from our miserable work and life, which is an insult to dharma. A true warrior wants to die in battle, not in bed; similarly, a true person's festival should be a celebration of their righteous actions and life.
