This festival reminds us of the light that is hope. Even in the darkest of times of despair, if you carry just an ounce of hope, even the smallest diya in your palm, you can walk forward towards something new.
Light can over come darkness but darkness cannot overcome light.
We are feeling so blessed to have our little incarnation of light with us this Diwali, along with family from England. It's still early morning and I can hear fireworks warming up already and see huge rangoli being drawn on freshly washed pavements below my window. We are looking forward to dressing up, creating rangoli with marigold petals, lighting oil lamps ( diyas), performing a pooja to Goddess Lakshmi and end the day by watching the sky burst with glitter.
I will also be praying that our baby and puppy are protected from the noise and smoke pollution this Diwali will inevitably bring. I guess that is just a reflection of life itself, the bad flows with the good and we have to protect ourselves (we are keeping them both downstairs). The solution to the pollution, just like the solution to despair, is to light diyas of hope instead of the noisy, smoky bombs (which don't even sparkle!).
Diwali celebrates good over evil, and goodness never conquered evil with bombs!
So, here's to a glittering Diwali full of joy, sparkle, sweets, family, friends, gummy smiles, toothy smiles and hope.
Sending love to you and yours this Diwali.
About Lauren Mokasdar
Lauren fell in love on the internet, took a one way flight from England, got married & started a new life & bicultural family in India. She writes about finding happiness & balance between two very different worlds, when her baby takes a nap.
