On Deepavali




Deepavali - Festival of lights. Originally, it referred to Deep, or the Indian lamp. Now-a-days, it is much convenient to set up an illumination with electrical lights. However, what is it about a Deep ଦୀପ, that distinguishes itself from an electric bulb, when I reflect upon Deepavali? Is it only nostalgia for the pre-electric era?

Deep or other variants with flame (candle, etc) have a special property in addition to removal of darkness. That is, you can light a Deep from a flaming Deep. There is a direct transmission of a flame from another flame, which seems to me quite natural, and symbolic in a human way, of how one glowing heart, through the process of sharing, can transmit joy, knowledge. Only if there is motivation on one side and receptivity on the other. This has been expressed in the song Jyot se jyot jagate chalo. 

In today's world, we cannot do without electricity. But we live our lives, sharing what lights we have, large or small. In that sense, it is Deepavali everyday.


Comments

  1. Ranginee ChoudhuryOctober 24, 2022 at 7:52 PM

    Inspiring punchline '...it is Deepaval everyday.'

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pinki jhaOctober 29, 2022 at 4:25 PM

    To remove darkness one has to make effort by lightning diyas, similarly one must try gaining knowledge by interaction.

    ReplyDelete

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