Today is Diwali, the biggest festival in much of India.
Diwali (from the Sanskrit dīpāvalī, “row of lights”) signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
It is celebrated with fireworks, feasts, and family gatherings. It also carries distinct philosophical, mythological, and historical meanings across traditions.
At its philosophical core, Diwali draws directly from the Upanishadic invocation Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya (“Lead me from darkness to light”). Light connotes knowledge (Jnana). Darkness represents avidya (ignorance, delusion, and ego), while the flame represents awakened self-awareness and truth. The Diya (earthen lamps) is a metaphor for the human body, the oil or ghee as worldly attachments and desires, and the wick as the intellect. When the intellect is ignited by knowledge, worldly desires burn away, radiating clarity. Continue reading “Diwali Greetings!”
