Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is one of the major festivals celebrated in India. The word Diwali is derived from Sanskrit, which means row of lights.
Earthen oil lamps or Diyas, candles, string lights, flowers, colorful rangoli, homes filled with the delightful smell of sweets and chocolates, embrace and laughter of loved ones, slight chilliness in the air as winter is close, and of course, fireworks. These are the things that come to mind when trying to explain how we celebrate Diwali in India. It is an auspicious festival that reminds people about togetherness, love, family, home, friends, and childhood memories.
Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, and some Buddhists all over the world celebrate Diwali. As one of the most popular festivals, Diwali symbolizes triumph over darkness, evil, and ignorance. It celebrates light, goodness, and knowledge. The origin story for celebrating Diwali and the idols to whom we pray are different for different religions and regions. It has become one of the most culturally rich and exuberant festivals ever, as people from every religion and culture in India take part in this festival.
Every year we celebrate Diwali with joy, happiness, and anticipation of new things. We start the day of celebration with new clothes, a clean home, decorations, and a puja. Then as the day progresses, we enjoy huge feasts with family members and friends. Later, we exchange gifts and meet more loved ones, ending the day with fireworks. This festival not only lights up the sky that night but also everyone's mood.
Let's try to make this year's Diwali a bit different by implementing a few new things. We can also do many other things differently. Being intentional about our choices and how they might affect our surroundings, environment, animals, and other people is the first step. If we start just by asking questions and try to make small changes, the repercussions it creates can be greater than what we expect.
This Diwali, let us be more conscious and responsible for our choices and be proactive about implementing them. It is necessary to be mindful, choose eco-friendly things, and celebrate more ethically and responsibly.
How to Make Diwali the Festival of Kindness
By caring about the well-being of animals, others, and ourselves, we can make beneficial changes and bring more significance to the festival. There are many ways to be kind, generous, thoughtful, caring, and giving. These changes can not only make Diwali an environmentally friendly festival but also adds more meaning and satisfaction.
Here are a few ways to do things that can help make Diwali a festival of kindness.
