Diwali, The Festival of Lights, is the biggest and most important holiday of the year for Hindus. It’s as important to Hindus as Christmas is for Christians. Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. Diwali is observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. The Diwali festival actually runs for five days, with the main celebrations happening on the third day in most places in India.
This year, Diwali is celebrated on November 14, 2020.
Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that’s enjoyed by almost all Indians regardless of their faith: Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs. The festival is also celebrated in Fiji, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Mauritius, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago. In each of these countries, its celebration includes placing millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples, and on other buildings in their respective communities.
In all of its interpretations, one common thread rings true – the festival marks the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.
What is the MetaSpiritual Interpretation of Diwali?
MetaSpiritually, Diwali could be interpreted to represent filling our consciousness with spiritual thoughts (lights) instead of materialistic, divinity-denying and self-aggrandizing thoughts (darkness). It could also symbolize ‘upping our consciousness’ to a super-conscious level so that we fill our thought universe with universal spiritual truths (knowledge) instead of hurtful tribal religious dogmas (ignorance) that demean women, the LGBTQI community, other races, and people with disabilities.
We could extend the metaphor to say that one day humankind will align itself with its innate Divinity (good) and eliminate its penchant for settling for its unenlightened egocentric nature (evil). We also affirm (hope) that humankind will achieve the oneness, positivity and unitive consciousness it needs to help everyone get ‘Home’ again instead of dishonoring each person’s innate divinity so that the human species perpetuates the dark side of human nature (despair).
Affirming your light is shining brightly as you walk the Spiritual path on positive, prosperous, practical feet!