Idea of a Luminous Diwali

The long awaited festival of Diwali has finally arrived! It’s during this time people be with their loved ones and immerse themselves into the festive spirit!

Everyone seems to enjoy this brief period ! 

This time I wanted to share an experience and more than that convey a strong message. 

Diwali is not only about sharing sweets and dry fruits with each other but it’s the festival of giving and being grateful for everything that we have . It’s an auspicious day to start on a new slate while erasing the past. No grudges , no hatred , no jealousy. Just giving love, spreading happiness, celebrating the gift of life ! 

This Diwali I want to urge everyone to come out of the mindset of societal differences and believe in unity! To be Unified together and work for uplifting others and rising ourselves.

I recently went on a stroll to shop for some Diyas 🪔 and stumbled upon an old man selling them I went on to ask few questions. As I approached him I saw few people trying to bargain for a ₹100 Kandil which was an exquisite and beautifully woven piece . I asked him from where did he bring them and how much time was required for making the same? , he replied that he came all the way from a small village in Kolkata and spent a year in making them . I asked him about their manufacturing and manpower required, he laughed and said that these were made by the villagers themselves and he was among the few who had come here to sell them . 

Upon hearing this some people who previously bargained immediately gave him the money he deserved and left . I really appreciated them for that gesture. And I think we should try avoiding bargaining with them as that’s their only source of income . With this money they can return home a few days before Diwali and feed their families. 

Small things make big differences ! 

The second incident is about the orthodox thinking of modern minds which I term as Intellectual Rubbish. Me and my friend were walking pass a Starbucks cafe, that’s where we met a young girl selling balloons. She was just standing near the cafe and when she saw us she tried selling her balloons. We however didn’t want the balloons and couldn’t think of a good reason to buy. So instead we asked her what she would like to have as a Diwali present . Just as we were talking we kept walking ahead and soon were near the Starbucks entrance. That’s when the guard came outside the shop and tried to drive away the girl from near the shop . We politely asked him to stop doing so to which he further said that she could not stand near the store please take her away . Upon hearing this I was really angry and shocked. Whenever I visited I was always welcomed in but just by this poor girls presence she was driven away . What kind of untouchability was this ? Since when did coffee become a luxury that poor people can’t come near to? My heart sank with this incident but when I looked at the girls face she simply smiled knowing that this would happen again . This was something which I never wanted to witness. And the problem is that Indians have made this as a symbol of status, they take pride in the most unnecessary things like Starbucks .I went to X(twitter ) and raised this issue . While the whole world is boycotting them ,here in India they are thriving to such an extent that they get to choose their customers. 

Really saddening to see that such an urban and intellectual society have the  most bizarre views and ideologies. If India is really progressing then I would like that to be reflected in the way people behave towards each other . That will be my vision for this Diwali ! 

Hence I would say it once again 

This Diwali start on a new page and learn good moral values which remains as the essence of this festival. 

Good not only financially but also by nature ! 

To all the amazing intellectual people who have started this journey who would have really experienced the festival of Diwali within themselves 

I would like to end by a beautiful verse that I learned from my Bharatnatyam teacher , 

“ Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya |

Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya |
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||”

Meaning :

Lead us from falsehood to truth|

From the unreal to the real|

From darkness to light|

From death to immortality |

Om peace peace peace ||

Hope that we all light Diyas in the hearts and minds of the people who are in or surrounded by total darkness!✨🪔

                                                            -AnniX13