Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Deepavali is the festival of lights and is celebrated all over India with a great deal of enthusiasm. In fact it is a week long celebration starting from Dhantheras to Bhai Dooj with an extra day on either side. The Bengali community worships the Goddess Kali on Diwali day, Marwari and Gujrathis worship the Goddess Lakshmi and the residents of the Gangetic plain celebrate the home coming of Lord Rama from exile. We Tamilians celebrate Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura. Stories abound with each community finding its own reason to celebrate the day. To my mind, the festival is indicative of the ultimate victory of justice and righteousness, whatever the obstacle. It is also a way of reminding oneself that we need to dispel the dark side of our society and replace it with light. So let us all celebrate Diwali by-

Remembering that there are several needy people out in the open without a shelter over their heads. We may not be able to build them homes but let us not shatter their hope of a better tomorrow.We seem to have a lot of things but no time to relax and enjoy the fruit of our labor. Let us take time out to spend time with our near and dear ones.

Let us surprise a long lost friend by either visiting him or with at least a phone call. I know that I need to visit one such person whom I remember quite often but never find time to meet. How would she know that she is very much in my thoughts? Social visits are almost non existent but isn’t Deepavali an appropriate time to say ‘I care for you’?

Finally let us remember that we may be among the fortunate few but the wheels of fortune keep turning and in our short span of purposeful life let us make ourselves useful to society so that the world remembers us, not by the amount of wealth we’ve amassed but by the good will we’ve managed to earn. We need not go about conquering an external enemy let us begin with a self introspection and decide how best one may light up the lives of others in whatever small and insignificant manner. After all don’t little drops of water make a mighty ocean?

23 comments:

Ardra said...

Dear HHG!
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Diwali...
lots of love
ardra

Tys on Ice said...

ma'am , wishing u and ur family a great diwali...

iam hving a party...bringing a lil bit on india into our living room with diyas, great fud, indian wear, cards and booze....folks in india will be feeding the children thru the ISKON in bangalore...party time!

Hip Grandma said...

arda:Thanks and wish you the same.

tys on ice:Nice way to bond with your community.Wishing all of you indians in Dubai a very Happy Diwali.

Vishesh said...

HAPPY diwali :)

Jaya said...

Wish you a very Happy Diwali HHG. You are in my thoughts as I do visit your blog every day :)

Usha said...

A very happy deepavali to you and yours Padma.

Unknown said...

Dear HHG - A very happy Diwali to you and all your loved ones. With a heart like yours I am sure you have a huge extended family. I hope the new year brings joy,good health and happiness to each one of you! thanks for your wishes too.

Archana Bahuguna said...

Wish you a very happy Diwali! Thanks...

Just Like That said...

A very happy Diwali to you and your family, dear HGMom! :-)

Gauri said...

Dear HHG

Here's wishing you and your family a very Happy Diwali. May the coming year be filled with peace, love and happiness.

Love

Gauri

WhatsInAName said...

Dear HHG :)
Heres wishing you and your family a very happy deepavali. Thanks a lot for your wishes.
You are so right about sharing the joys of this festival with the near and dear ones, and the needy. I try my best to make everyone around me especially people who work for me, happy, by gifting them what they need. It is a lovely feeling indeed.

rajk said...

Very nice post...BTW, for Gujaratis, the day after Diwali is the New Year, where everyone visits their relatives and friends!! Nice way to start the new year, don't you think?
Your post inspired me to call my friends and get back in touch with those who I haven't spoken to in a long time, thank you!
Wish you a very happy diwali too!

Monika said...

lovely post as usual.... happy diwali to u and ur family

Hip Grandma said...

visesh:Thanks.same to you.

Joy:You're welcome.Have a nice day.

Just jen:Welcome here and I'll check out your blog soon.

Usha:thanks and same to you.

eve's lung:Thanks and your compliment applies to you too.Haven't we bonded into a nice group?

Archana:Thanks.Extend my wishes to others in your circle.

JLT:Thanks and my wishes to kunjukuttan too.

gauri:thanks and same to you.

whatsinaname:I think that's about the least one can do for the needy.I mean needy in not only a materialistic way.Emotional needs are equally important.

rajk:Do it at once.They're going to love it.

monika:Thanks monika.Take utmost care of yourself too.

Sue said...

Happy Diwali to you too, HH G'ma!

I think you have some very nice festive ideas. I particularly like the one about contacting a friend.

I know I have a whole list of blogs but my main one is Sunny Days. The one where you comment is just my writing. You're welcome there, of course, and I do see all comments as well, but I just thought you may be getting confused.

hillgrandmom said...

Hhg, what I did was click on the pic(the award) and then save the picture and then upload to the blog and copy and paste the wording next to it.

starry said...

wishing you and your family a happy Diwali. Love this post.

Preethi said...

Happy Diwali... as always great post.... Hope you had a good time.

Balaji said...

Happy Deepawali grandma. It was really nice to read your post and some of the things mentioned were the things that I did. and boy did I enjoy it

aMus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
aMus said...

This was my first deepavali in Singapore and i really wished to be back in India where we generally use this occasion to meet friends and have them over...

Still, a group of us got together and organised a get-together of sorts attended by locals, and few other nationalities...so managed to spread some cheer and personally fet cheered at the end of the evening...

hope u had a wonderful deepvali...

Artnavy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Artnavy said...

nice. hope u had a wonderful D-day

about what you missed- u can look here-http://abouttimenow.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-own-little-explorer.html

finally your blog let me comment!!