THE nation looks forward to celebrating the festival of Diwali today, which is a national holiday. There is a connection of Diwali with lights, earthen diyas lit with ghee or oil, and their electronic competitors or candles, artfully arranged to illuminate the night for the path of the Lord, observed on the darkest night of the year, as per Hindu philosophy. It is a spectacle to behold here in Guyana, neighbouring Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, India, and the Guyanese Diaspora.

There is an overarching message behind this great Hindu Festival of Lights, one that the nation and the world at large should heed. It is a simple message of the triumph of good over bad. As Hindu philosophers and pandits inform, the flame of the diya symbolises human’s inner quest for light to brighten the dark corners of the soul and the sub-consciousness of the mind. The meaning of Diwali is the victory of light (which represents knowledge, wisdom and prosperity) over darkness (blank and bad thoughts in the mind); of goodness (being kind and generous) over evil (selfishness); of happiness (joy and self-satisfaction) over misery (loneliness and self-engrossment).

Humans yearn to replace greed, anger, jealousy and lust and other terrible vices with sharing and caring, joy, peace, warmth, love and compassion for other humans.  Diwali is a source of light to conquer the dark corners of one’s life and home, and of the nation.

Guyanese may be too engrossed in the actual material celebration of Diwali, and may lose sight of its real significance in the foregoing meaning. Diwali is more than the material, food, and the joyous and fun aspects; they must heed the strong message behind Diwali, the triumph of light over darkness; of good over evil. The light is not only physical, to be seen by the naked eyes, but also internal; in the mind, body, and soul. Diwali, or the lighting of lamps, also symbolises the victory of truth over falsehood; knowledge over ignorance, and morality over immorality.  According to Hindu philosophy, the will of the human will enable him to vanquish the forces of evil thoughts or wrongdoing within the mind, and or the environment.  It is also about how people live; their feelings of compassion to help the less fortunate, especially during this time of the pandemic that has upended lives.

The preparation for the festival of Diwali is a tedious process, and includes physical and mental conditioning. Hindus spent days, if not weeks, cleansing their physical space; the home, the yard and environs, rendering them spic and span.

Just before Diwali, there were also the observances of Dussehra and Navratri; an extended period of fasting and prayers to the Lord, and cleansing of the body, mind, and physical space. There is also internal cleansing of the mind and body. The Diwali festival, like its Hindu predecessors, is a sacrifice of time and material possession, which is a reflection of one’s commitment to God, fellow humans, and the environment.

The Hindu scholars and scriptures point to the five days of Diwali that not only include celebratory outward material festivities, but also internal self-healing of the mind, and the process of self-realisation and self-reflection. Auspicious Hindus began fasting days before the festival. People also use the occasion to give thanks, and pray for peace and prosperity for themselves, family, friends, relatives and the Guyanese nation.

This year, the public celebration has been severely toned down in view of the pandemic. This year, motorcades and concerts have gone ‘virtual’. And many may say they miss the fun on the roads and streets, and visits to neighbours’ homes, and all the delicious snacks that go with the celebration. But it’s the thoughts and the message that matter the most.

On this occasion, Guyanese should reiterate their belief in the cherished ideals of harmony, peace, love, compassion, and understanding of others that would lead to inner peace and harmony. It is worthwhile for humans to consider every day as Diwali, and to replace vices with virtues.