Diwali's origin is a mystery
Folklore has versions many
Is it Ram's return to Ayodhya?
Is it Krishna's defeat of Narkasura?
Is it Bali's defeat by Vamana?
Is it Mahavir Jain attaining Nirvana?
Is it to do with Lakshmi or Kubera?
Is it to do with Saraswati or Durga?
Whatever the legend be
All celebrate good's victory.
The darkest, the night of Amavas
Is lit bright with light bursts.
Ignorance, like darkness, is defeated
As the lights of knowledge are ignited.
The ones with plenty share merrily
For the whole world is a family.
What matters the symbol,
When the thought is crystal?
What matters the language
When humanity we celebrate?
Worldviews expressed differently,
Yet are the same essentially.
Diwali equalises us as human
Perfectly balancing reason and emotion.
Happy Deepavali!
May the lights of the season brighten your and your loved ones' lives forever.
- Written on 5 November 2018 night.
- Diwali is on 6 Nov for South Indians and on 7 Nov for the North. But what matters is the season of festivities continue. :)
- Also a friend and colleague is coteaching a paper on Language Pedagogy and yesterday's session inspired me to think of origins of stories and symbols and signs in language.
Facebook Link to the rhyme and responses:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155535214786230&id=692626229
Chirantan Ami wrote on Facebook on 6 Nov 2018 in response to the above:
We light up the streets, our lives to push away the evil,
Why don't we push away the darkness inside us,
Why don't we light ourselves everyday
Why do we wait for some occasion to celebrate humanity,
Why don't we do it everyday
May from this deepavali onwards we re-think the meaning of our being.
May souls like you save
Us from pulling in the darkness inside.
May the lights today
Light up our existence and illuminate our perspective
Happy deepavali to youAnusha Ramanathan, and to all of us still searching for our guiding lights!
My response to him on 6 Nov 2018 also on Facebook:
Chirantan S:
The idea of Diwali is good over evil,
It is the thought that our minds should fill.
The day is just a reminder
Of the path we hold dear.
The day is like a signpost
Of what we achieved and how much further to go.
The day is to inspire us anew
To make us goodness with fresh vigour to pursue.
No we should not wait for an occasion to celebrate humanity,
But we need to celebrate our endeavour, our unity.
It is not to be just symbolic,
That is worse than words and actions vitriolic.
But as we march ahead in our serious quest,
We do need respite, some joy, some jest.
That is how I see this fest,
On the onward journey, a rejuvenating rest. :)
Folklore has versions many
Is it Ram's return to Ayodhya?
Is it Krishna's defeat of Narkasura?
Is it Bali's defeat by Vamana?
Is it Mahavir Jain attaining Nirvana?
Is it to do with Lakshmi or Kubera?
Is it to do with Saraswati or Durga?
Whatever the legend be
All celebrate good's victory.
The darkest, the night of Amavas
Is lit bright with light bursts.
Ignorance, like darkness, is defeated
As the lights of knowledge are ignited.
The ones with plenty share merrily
For the whole world is a family.
What matters the symbol,
When the thought is crystal?
What matters the language
When humanity we celebrate?
Worldviews expressed differently,
Yet are the same essentially.
Diwali equalises us as human
Perfectly balancing reason and emotion.
Happy Deepavali!
May the lights of the season brighten your and your loved ones' lives forever.
- Written on 5 November 2018 night.
- Diwali is on 6 Nov for South Indians and on 7 Nov for the North. But what matters is the season of festivities continue. :)
- Also a friend and colleague is coteaching a paper on Language Pedagogy and yesterday's session inspired me to think of origins of stories and symbols and signs in language.
Facebook Link to the rhyme and responses:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155535214786230&id=692626229
Chirantan Ami wrote on Facebook on 6 Nov 2018 in response to the above:
We light up the streets, our lives to push away the evil,
Why don't we push away the darkness inside us,
Why don't we light ourselves everyday
Why do we wait for some occasion to celebrate humanity,
Why don't we do it everyday
May from this deepavali onwards we re-think the meaning of our being.
May souls like you save
Us from pulling in the darkness inside.
May the lights today
Light up our existence and illuminate our perspective
Happy deepavali to youAnusha Ramanathan, and to all of us still searching for our guiding lights!
My response to him on 6 Nov 2018 also on Facebook:
Chirantan S:
The idea of Diwali is good over evil,
It is the thought that our minds should fill.
The day is just a reminder
Of the path we hold dear.
The day is like a signpost
Of what we achieved and how much further to go.
The day is to inspire us anew
To make us goodness with fresh vigour to pursue.
No we should not wait for an occasion to celebrate humanity,
But we need to celebrate our endeavour, our unity.
It is not to be just symbolic,
That is worse than words and actions vitriolic.
But as we march ahead in our serious quest,
We do need respite, some joy, some jest.
That is how I see this fest,
On the onward journey, a rejuvenating rest. :)
Posts
