A RAY OF HOPE LAMPS OF VIRTUE

Rows of lamps in gentle glow, Teach us truths we ought to know.

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That light can break the darkest night, And wisdom shines as our true sight.

Diwali is not a festival celebrated for a day or two, it begins with the spirit of Dussehra and continues for weeks. Homes are cleaned, every corner shines, and decorations bloom in anticipation of Goddess Lakshmi's blessings. But Diwali is more than lights and sweets—it is the season of virtues: righteousness, courage, humility, generosity, and love.

The Golden Generosity of a King Vikramaditya

Once upon a time, the great King Vikramaditya decided to build a grand palace on the banks of a river. The palace turned out so beautiful that even the priest who came for the housewarming desired it as dakshina. Though everyone was shocked, the generous king gifted the palace to the priest. That very night, Goddess Lakshmi, pleased by the splendour of the mansion, came to wander through it. Her laughter and the tinkling of her anklets awoke the priest and his wife, who mistook her for a spirit and grew frightened. They requested the king to take back the mansion.

But King Vikramaditya refused, saying, “What I have once given, I cannot take back.”

Instead, he paid the priest an enormous sum of money and took the palace.

When Lakshmi appeared again, she revealed her identity and offered blessings. The king humbly replied, “Bless not me, but my kingdom.”

So pleased was the goddess with his selflessness that she showered gold coins across his land, blessing every household. Generosity always returns manifold. Diwali reminds us that wealth gains meaning only when shared for the good of others.

Gold That Shines, Gold That Serves