Diwali

 

Learning: 1. Empty your cup. 

2. Remove exernal and internal clutters. 

3. Light the diya - consider your environment 

4. Be consistent and disciplined

5. Create and stick to your goals, make at least one cheque this week.

Diwali symbolizing the victory of Light over Darkness, of Good over Evil, of Knowledge over Ignorance, and Dharma over Adharma, marks the return of Lord Rama, Seeta, Lakshmana and Hanuman to Ayodhya after a 14 year exile, ... culminating in the victory over Demon King Ravana.

Diwali is a pan India festival which I have celebrated  not only in Kerala, but also in Bombay, Valsad  and Jamnagar in Gujarat, Bangalore, Delhi, and Madras. 

Diwali is also an important festival for Jains (Mahavira became Tirthankara)), Sikhs ( founding of Amritsar,  Bandi Chhor Diwas release of Guru Hargobind Singh and martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh in 1738) and Kali pujas across eastern India.

Deepavali, as a harvest festival, predated even Rama, the 7th avatar of  Vishnu. According to the Rig Veda, " Even the gods came later."

Events from the life of Lord Rama are embedded across the subcontinent and even far beyond. 

Kishkinda, the legendary kingdom of Bali, Sugriva & Hanuman, was located where the medieval Victory City,  Vijaynagar was later built.

Several sites in South India are pointed out as places where body parts of Jadayu, king of Eagles, fell, after being cut down in midair by Ravana.

The Raja of Ramnad, (whose palace is worth  visiting) is designated "Sethupathy", Guardian of Sethu Bridge. And not far away, is the Kothandarama Temple where Vibhishana was crowned. 

In Srilanka in 2011, two days after seeing the Bodhi sapling brought by Asoka's son Mahendra, at Anuradhapra, we had the unexpected pleasure of visiting Seeta Amman kovil on the mythical island where Hanuman visited captive Seeta Ma.

And yes, the conquering Pallavas and Cholas took the powerful legend of Lord Rama across the seas to Southeast Asia.

What better indication of India's softpower than the dominant legend of Rama in Indonesia (which has the world's largest Muslim population) and the reality that Thailand's Buddhist monarch, titled Rama X, rules from Ayuthya, the official name of Bangkok!

J P Alexander

Driver ko bonus diya? 

Clients ko dry fruits diya? 

Neighbours ko sweets diya?

Friends ko greetings diya? 

Happy Diwali. The festivals of diyas.