Rekindle the light within

Light the lamp of love in your heart; the lamp of abundance in your home; the lamp of compassion to serve others; the lamp of knowledge to dispel the darkness of ignorance; the lamp of gratitude for all that the Divine has given us.

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The word ‘Deepavali’ originates from the Sanskrit words, ‘Deep’(light) and ‘Avali’ (rows). ‘Deepavali or ‘Deepawali’, the festival of lights, is celebrated on the darkest night of the Kartik month (Amavasya). It symbolises the light of knowledge dispelling the darkness of ignorance and bringing in the radiance of love.

When love glows, it is bliss;

When it flows, it is compassion;

When it acts, it is perfection;

When love knows, it is Me.

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar

Illumination beyond illusion

The world is an illusion; Deepawali is that time of the year, where all illusions are warded off. It is a festival that reminds you about the importance of knowledge in life. When there is knowledge, there is no darkness. And when do you need knowledge? You need knowledge at the darkest times of life. When you are blissful and everything is okay, who cares for knowledge? But it is when you have to face challenges that you most need knowledge to kindle the wisdom within you.

Deepawali is the festival of light. Here, light signifies ‘wisdom’. We need to globalise wisdom today. People of various cultures, religions, nationalities and gender need to come together and realise that we are all part of one human family.