Diwali is a celebration of lights and no celebration goes without eating sweets and all the delicious snack items. The concept of light is to overcome the dark right? Now, in this case, the light holds symbolism of knowledge and wisdom and the darkness being a symbol of destruction, violence, lust, envy, greed, suffering, etc.
Diwali is not just the lights, gambling, and fun-filled surprises and gifts; Diwali is also a time to reflect on one’s life, past deeds and making the right changes for the upcoming year.
Diwali marks the birth of a new and rejuvenated soul. A happy and refreshed mind during Diwali charges up a person to make changes as a healthy, ethical individual, who will be more efficient in their work, and will also be spiritually advanced.
Most importantly, Diwali illuminates our inner self. The lights of Diwali also signify a time to destroy all our dark desires, dark thoughts, and have a deeper, inner illumination and self-reflection.
There is a reason we started preparing sweets and savouries during the time of Diwali. It is the time harvest begins and there is an abundance of sugarcane and during harvest time is when the farmers needed the energy to work in the fields. The sweets provided them protein and carbohydrates to keep their body in the best condition and right energy. Let us try and look at this way, in the modern times we hardly have leisure time and in spite of the fact that we hardly do any exercise we still eat all the fried items and sweets. When you start working out and keep your body in optimum condition the effects of weight gain and fat accumulation will not happen and the sweets you eat during each festivity will not take a toll on you.
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We know all about what happens on the days of Diwali and why we celebrate it.
Let us see how we relate this to our own growth. The first day of this festival is Dhanteras were we generally buy gold, silver and other materials. We also light diyas to overcome evil. In our modern days we don’t lack material as good fortune but we do lack in keeping our health [physical and mental] at its peak condition. So when you light the diyas, allow yourself to rid your negative feelings and make a commitment to your body’s future. Replace your greed with generosity this Dhanteras.
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The Second day Narak Chaturdesi is when we wake up early, have the holy bath and clean.
Having talked about cleaning things from the inside, it is important to take this analogy and apply it to our life as well. While we make efforts to clean the harmful dust and dirt that is visible to our eyes, we continue to ingest chemicals in everything from the soaps we use to the food we eat. Cleaning our body on the inside by getting rid of these products and turning to the naturally produced and cultivates options is the need of the hour, not just for our bodies but also for the environment.
When we talk about cleaning, one part of it also means ‘Not adding dirt’ in your body as well in the environment in the form of hazardous chemicals, packets or crackers.
A clean house is a healthy house. We need to cultivate this habit and make it part of our routine and not just the festivities to keep the germs at bay, lower the chances of asthma and allergy symptoms.
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By the third day we worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh to bless us with good fortune. On this day in olden times the family used to spend hours together preparing fresh sweets and savouries and gather as a community to share what we make. However, who has the time to do all that now right? No! Let us start by making small things, exchange that with our neighbours and families instead of store-bought foods which will only pile up and end in food wastage. This is also the time where we should get out of our rut and start participating in community gatherings and do something for the society. For example donate your old clothes or toys that your children don’t use anymore to the needy and let them also celebrate and share this joy!
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Govardhan Puja is the fourth day where Lord Krishna lifts Mount Govardhana to say a village of people from destruction. Think of this as lifting yourself up from the rut and day to day routine you have been putting yourself in and along with you lift others too. In this modern-day the destruction that is happening is within and our environment. So take a pledge to help yourself and others to become better.
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The last day is Bhai dhuj and it is all about brothers protecting their sisters while sisters pray for their brothers long lives.
Festivals play a great role in bringing us closer to each other and our culture. Hence this Diwali don’t just perform the festivities blindly but understand the symbolism of why it was done and incorporate it into our lives for the betterment of you and the environment.
Did you look at things differently this Diwali? Let us know and we will be more than happy to help you achieve your goals!
