Acharya Prashant explains that Deepavali is the festival of light, which is only relevant in the context of darkness. He defines darkness as the innate ignorance and lack of awareness that humans are born with. He suggests that the three hundred and sixty-four days of the year should be spent identifying and fighting this inner darkness, while the festival itself is a celebration of the success achieved in that struggle. He emphasizes that inner darkness is deceptive because it often masquerades as knowledge or confidence. Therefore, Deepavali signifies the process of reviewing and removing false beliefs and misconceptions. Regarding the transition from death to immortality, he explains that the ego identifies with perishable, worldly things, which leads to the fear of death. True immortality is achieved by withdrawing from these external identifications and realizing one's true nature beyond the physical body. He notes that while India is a land of festivals aimed at removing the three types of suffering and achieving bliss, the core essence of religion has often been diluted into mere rituals and stories to make it accessible to the masses. He concludes that true religiosity involves recognizing one's bondages and constantly striving for liberation.
