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    Diwali's Lights Shine Bright with Optimism in 2023

     

    Diwali is India's most important religious festival, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil; it is a beautiful time for people to shine as beacons of optimism! 

    As the Hindustan Times remarked, "Diwali to Diwali, optimism is the strong message."

    Diwali decorations emphasise optimism with colourful, vibrant decorations.  A “diya” is an oil lamp that lights up homes during the Diwali festival and symbolises prosperity and optimism.  Diyas are handmade out of clay and often painted in vibrant colours.

    Dr Gorakh Bobde, the CEO of AGS Ingenuity, shared with me:  "Diwali is known as the festival of lights.  It signifies the triumph of light over darkness, Optimism over uncertainty, and hope over despair.  May millions of lamps illuminate in your life with endless optimism and possibilities."

    In the article "Searching for India – during the joyous explosions of Diwali," my friend Stephen Manallack wrote "There is nothing in India more joyous than the annual Diwali “Festival of Lights” celebrating the triumph of good over evil, light over dark and knowledge over ignorance. Surely this optimistic and hopeful theme is relevant to our world today?... Diwali is really a reminder of the beauty of this world and all things in it – what a great message of hope and optimism this is for all our children."

    The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, said, "A celebration of lights, Diwali is an occasion to honour the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and right over wrong. As people around the world gather with family and friends to light diyas, decorate homes, offer prayers, or exchange gifts and food, we are reminded to look to the year ahead with optimism and hope."

    The Indian Students Association's Nishant Kumar said, "Diwali is not only a festival, it is about togetherness, unity and optimism."

    Scott Morrison, former Prime Minister of Australia, said, "This is a religious festival this is a festival of faith, it’s about optimism, it’s about hope it’s about triumph, it’s about family, it’s about looking into the future with positivity.”

    The former Prime Minister of Fiji, Voreqe Bainimarama, said, "Light has won over darkness. Good has won over evil. Knowledge has won over ignorance. So let us be generous and gracious with the gifts bestowed upon us and let us move forward confident in the power of our optimism to prevail over the challenges that lay ahead.”

    Uday Yadav, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Eaton Electrical Sector Board, said, "It’s inspiring to celebrate a holiday that looks toward new hopes, dreams and aspirations—one that signifies happiness with practices that have participants letting go of the negativity and shining a light on the optimism of tomorrow. It’s something our world needs more of!"

     

    On Fireworks: "Fireworks are a modern phenomenon and usually in traditional Hindu/or other Indian homes the clay lamps are lit and placed in the front courtyard to mark the joyous occasion of light symbolizing optimism and hope for the future," Dr Bihani Sarkar, departmental lecturer in Sanskrit at the University of Oxford, told Newsweek.

     

     

     

     

     

     
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