Every year, as Diwali night arrives, our homes burst into light. Thousands of lamps shimmer on balconies, in courtyards, and on terraces. Families gather with laughter, children run around with sparklers, and sweets flow endlessly from plate to plate. It is indeed a time when hearts feel lighter and the air seems charged with celebration.
But amid all this external brightness, a quiet question arises — is the light within us glowing as brightly as the one outside? That humble clay lamp burning silently on the threshold carries within it the real essence of Diwali. The lamp reminds us that the true beauty of light lies not in its intensity but in its consistency. Just as the flame needs oil to burn, our soul too needs the oil of divine wisdom to stay luminous. Without that nourishment, the glow fades, and darkness once again finds its place. Traditionally, Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and virtue over vice. The various legends connected with the festival — like Shri Ram’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, the emergence of Goddess Lakshmi from the churning of the ocean, Lord Mahavira attaining nirvana, or the day of Goddess Kali’s worship —all point to one underlying truth:Diwali is the festival of inner victory. Today, it has become a social and economic celebration. Cities compete in illumination; markets overflow with luxury goods, and people measure joy in gifts. Yet, loneliness is growing, relationships are weakening, and peace seems missing. Why? Because outer brightness cannot erase inner darkness. Hence, we need to understand that true Diwali begins not when you light the first lamp outside your home, but when you light the first lamp within your heart. That inner flame is kindled through introspection, meditation, forgiveness, and self-purification.
So, this year, as millions of lamps illuminate the world, pause for a moment and ask yourself: Have I lighted the lamp of peace in my own mind? Have I helped someone who lives in the darkness of poverty, loneliness, or despair? Has my celebration brought hope to even one forgotten soul? Instead of spending thousands on fireworks that burst and vanish in seconds, light a lamp of happiness in someone’s heart; it will glow far longer. Visit an old-age home, share a meal with someone hungry, speak kindly to a person who has been ignored, or forgive someone who once hurt you. Each of these acts is a flame that will never die out. When even a single person’s heart lights up because of your kindness, your own Diwali becomes divine. For the truth is simple: darkness doesn’t disappear by fighting it; it disappears when light enters. So this Diwali, cleanse not just your home but also your mind. Remove the cobwebs of ego, jealousy, and anger. Polish the walls of your heart with gratitude and humility. And then, light that eternal lamp of the soul by connecting to the Supreme Light through meditation. You will feel a radiance that no electric bulb can match. When each soul lights up from within, the world will transform. There will be no envy, no hatred, no sorrow — only peace and purity. Then every home will become a temple, every heart a sacred shrine, and the earth itself will glow like a paradise once again. So, let this Diwali be a festival of enlightenment. Light the lamp of knowledge, burn anger and greed, and spread compassion. When one soul awakens, it inspires thousands. That is how darkness disappears — not through criticism, but through illumination.
The writer is a spiritual educator & popular columnist
