Wish you all a Happy Deepavali 2012

Tonight and tomorrow morning is the auspicious day of Deepavali (also called Diwali) when once again the good triumphs over evil. 

The old man Krishnan.Vadhyar who is suffering from temporary health issues explains the term Deepavali, which has morphed to Diwali. 

The old man says, Deepavali is normally, literally, described as “row of lamps”.  That is how it is understood in most of Northern India, and lamps, lights, diyas are lit all over.

• It seems even Tibetans have got into the practice - seeing how they light themselves up against Chinese occupation.  OK! No politics during a festival.

The old man explained that the term ‘Deepavali’ actually means the ‘Way of Light’.  The path to righteous, honest, moral and kind way or path, by which the good triumphs over evil.

• It seems the English movie makes have got into the practice - the ‘way of light’ sounds so much like ‘may the force be with you’.  OK! No frivolity during a festival.  

The old man also told me that tonight is the night when Narakasura, who true to his name ‘Narak’-asura, made life hell for people, was killed by the consort of Krishna - Satyabhama, who true to her name ‘Satya’bhama, was truthful.

• OK! No pandering to women even on a holiday.

So, tonight/today, on the auspicious day of Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, I am going to do what I’ve never done for last 20 years.

When I pray for everyone to be blessed with Happiness, Wealth, Health, Joy and Cheer in their life (as I usually do during every puja), I am going to ask for something extra too.

Let everyone have wealth, health, happiness, cheer, joy and a better half who conquers the asuras, and let me (and my brother too) be blessed with better than others, especially that our chosen women conquer their asuras in whose grip they seem to have fallen recently, and come back into the path of wellness and good health.

Wish everyone a Happy Deepavali, with a hope that you will pray for us too!



(image courtesy Govindaswamy)

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