Diwali: The Festival of Light and Renewal

 Every autumn, millions of people around the world light lamps, share sweets, and decorate their homes to celebrate Diwali, also known as Deepavali, the “Festival of Lights.” Rooted in ancient Indian tradition and celebrated across faiths and cultures, Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Origins and Meaning

The word Deepavali comes from Sanskrit — deepa meaning “lamp” and avali meaning “a row.” Together, it paints the image of homes, streets, and temples illuminated with countless lights — a visual representation of hope and clarity.

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists, each observing it with distinct historical and spiritual meanings:

• For Hindus, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana. It’s also associated with the goddess Lakshmi, the bringer of wealth and prosperity.

  
  

• For Sikhs, it commemorates Guru Hargobind Ji’s release from imprisonment in 1619 — an event now called Bandi Chhor Divas (“Day of Liberation”).

  
  

• For Jains, it honors the spiritual awakening (nirvana) of Lord Mahavira, the last of the Jain Tirthankaras.

  
  

• For Buddhists (Newar Buddhists in Nepal), it celebrates King Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism, symbolizing peace and enlightenment.

  
  

Despite these diverse origins, the core message of Diwali is shared — renewal, unity, and the light of the soul that dispels darkness.

The heart of Diwali lies not in extravagance, but in connection — reconnecting with loved ones, community, and one’s higher self.

A Global Celebration

From Delhi to Dubai, Toronto to Trinidad, Diwali has transcended borders. In Canada, many communities host Diwali events featuring light displays, dances, and multicultural performances. It has become a shared celebration of diversity — uniting people of all backgrounds in joy and gratitude.

The Deeper Message

Beyond lights and sweets, Diwali carries a profound inner message. It invites reflection on what “light” means within us — kindness, integrity, wisdom, compassion.

In a time where the world often feels divided or dark, Diwali reminds us that one small flame can illuminate the vast night — that our individual goodness contributes to collective harmony. This is poetically expressed in the Upanishads, an ancient Vedic scripture that uses poetic verses to illuminate the meaning of light through everyday observances :

“From darkness, lead me to light. From ignorance, lead me to truth.”

Diwali is more than a festival — it’s a deeply spiritual reflection of what it means to be a source of light in the world.

When its time to light a diya, it is symbolically choosing hope over despair, unity over division, and light over darkness — both in our communities and within ourselves.

Happy Diwali, and Deepawali.