What is the “True” meaning of Diwali ?

-An insight into the most popular festival of India.

Diwali is not just a word for us Indians, it is chaos to some, burning a hole in the pockets to some, and the time of getting showered by blessings from the currency goddess to some. All in all, in reality the motivation for observing this festival and the real fervor of diwali to most of us are the sweet and savory delicacies. Well, is it not the case for every other festival we celebrate? Wonder, was the situation same, when people were actually celebrating diwali for the first time, when Ram returned from his “Vanvaas”, conquering the evil? I guess, this was more like it actually. As in, people were partying, they were worshiping out of happiness, thanking the heavens for returning their king, neither the dark event of Sita being tested on fire for proving her purity is of course not taken into consideration, nor a day is celebrated to condemn it. Oh, wait, we can have that kind of day too ! Condemning Day, our politicians, after gaining a kilo or two after Diwali, will lose it all on this day.

Well, leaving aside all the wishful thinking, lets get back to discussing the real meaning of diwali. On that note, does everybody remember hearing people talk about the “True meaning of Christmas”, “the real fervor of Christmas”?, have we heard the same about Diwali? Uh, no! Probably because we are too busy buying clothes, crackers, preparing sweets and texting each other, and not to forget clicking pictures for social media. Still, to the young and the elderly, and to the working gentry (wouldn't dare to count them, the working class, in normal league as they are fuming because of recession already), this particular festival lets them take leave, meet family and have a jolly time enjoying each others company, which has become a once-in-a-year phenomena.

It is a good thing that Diwali still includes some basic things, more like regulations, to be celebrated, performing lakshmi puja, bursting crackers and exchanging gifts. Aah, gifts...fond childhood memories of receiving a bald dadaji sketched paper, that would mean nothing to us, and slurp-y, greedy memories of the year gone by, when receiving the “bald dadaji sketched paper (now, Gandhi ji), on diwali meant being an “Ambani” for two days.

In another setting though, it is the gifts market of diwali, that sets the commerce running in India's veins. Shops all decked up with numerous things that vie for attention as long as on shelf, as once they are bought, you know you spent out of your budget. Well, today, as the options of gifting has gone a notch higher with personalized gifts, you and me are happy receiving relative's and friend's self-hussain-ed graphic t-shirts, coffee mugs and etc. A way better option than receiving out of date, sale bought clothes and items ( bought in order to curb their budget on gifting other people). Well, not to blame anyone, but with recession, India cannot love its relatives more than how much they do (the amount of love is questionable, questionably low) already.

India is not in the position to celebrate, to be talking straight, but as we Indians are hopelessly optimistic, these times bring out the best in us. After being looted by the “Gora's” we learned how to live in meager and when we achieved a good status, we learned to splurge too. In all the times though, never, would anybody have heard that the fervor of any festival has shown weak trends in the accounts register. Yes, needless to say, our ability to celebrate our position, no matter what it is, is the real fervor of festivals.

Indians may not be stuffed up (at least not all of us), we may not apparently have a living standard, we may not be seen sitting in clubs as soon as office hours end, but man we splurge on our festivities, and we do it like nobody else. That is how the term- “Big Fat Indian x-y-z” was coined isn't it? We do it all, Patiala style. Recession, political disturbance, natural calamity, come one-come all, we will stand together light diyas, gorge on sweets, buy new clothes, purchase gift items, celebrate diwali, and do everything more enthusiastically than the year gone by. May the queen live, May our green note “Dada ji” prosper in currency notes and may we be celebrating Diwali like ever before.

Hope all of us find the “True” meaning behind it !