Deepawali, Deepo Wali – the festival of lights. A festival that reminds us of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. The word Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning a row or series of lights (Deepa meaning lamp or light and Avali meaning a row). The lighting of lamps symbolises the removal of inner darkness, ignorance, negativity and despair through the light of knowledge and wisdom. But have we really understood the meaning of Deepawali, or have we slowly made it a festival of crackers, noise and competition?

Deepawali is celebrated by people belonging to different faiths and traditions, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and others, each with their own historical and spiritual significance.

For many Hindus, it marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and his victory over Ravana, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. Naraka Chaturdashi, celebrated a day before the main Deepawali and also known as Choti Diwali, commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura, symbolising the destruction of evil. In Southern India, this victory is particularly associated with the main significance of the festival. In some Western Indian traditions, the occasion is also associated with Lord Vishnu sending King Bali to the netherworld. Goddess Lakshmi, the deity associated with wealth and prosperity, is worshipped during Lakshmi Puja, while in Bengal and several other regions, Kali Puja is celebrated, often with special rituals around midnight. For many business communities, Deepawali also marks the beginning of a new financial year. In Gujarat, the day after Deepawali is celebrated as the Gujarati New Year, known as Bestu Varas, marking fresh beginnings and prosperity. For Jains, the occasion marks the nirvana or liberation of Lord Mahavira, symbolising the enduring light of his teachings. For Sikhs, it coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, commemorating the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji from imprisonment at Gwalior Fort along with 52 captive princes. The celebrations continue with Govardhan Puja, associated with Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect the people of Braj, followed by Bhai Dooj, which celebrates the special bond between brothers and sisters. Thus, the festival carries different meanings for different communities, but themes of light, freedom, spiritual awakening and the triumph of good remain important.

The celebrations are not limited to India. Deepawali is celebrated across India and Nepal and by Indian communities and people around the world. From Ayodhya and Varanasi to Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Amritsar and countless villages and towns, people decorate their homes, light diyas, perform pujas, prepare sweets, distribute gifts and meet their families. In Nepal, Tihar is celebrated over several days, with traditions involving crows, dogs, cows, Goddess Lakshmi and brothers and sisters. In different parts of the world, communities organise cultural programmes, illuminate homes, visit temples and celebrate together, keeping their traditions alive even when they are far away from their homeland.

The beauty of Deepawali lies in lighting diyas, illuminating our homes, spending time with our families, sharing happiness and spreading positivity. Then why have we made bursting crackers such an important part of the celebration? What is the purpose of creating so much noise and pollution for just a few seconds of pleasure? Yes, the colourful lights in the sky look beautiful, the sounds create excitement, and for a few seconds we enjoy watching them. But have we ever thought about the harm caused in those few seconds? Most of us do not even realise what goes into the air we breathe or how much noise pollution we create. Is a few seconds of visual and auditory pleasure from fireworks worth the environmental damage we leave behind? Global warming has already started showing its effects. We can see changing weather patterns, unpredictable seasons, extreme heatwaves, heavy rainfall, devastating floods and several other environmental challenges. These are not distant predictions anymore; they are happening around us. Yet, if we continue ignoring the situation and keep adding to the damage, who will save us? The world is already witnessing wars, conflicts and destruction caused by human beings. Why should we add another problem to the planet that gives us life?

We must also understand that the population in earlier times was much smaller compared to what it is today. Even if people burst crackers during celebrations back then, the overall impact was not the same as it can be today. Now imagine millions of people bursting crackers at the same time, all thinking that they are doing it for just one day or a few days. If everyone thinks this way, what will happen to our environment? Have we ever stopped to calculate the collective impact of these individual actions? Just because one person thinks that bursting a few crackers will not make much difference does not mean that millions of people doing the same thing will have no consequences. The population has increased, consumption has increased, and so has the pressure on our natural resources and environment.

We cannot continue using the argument that it is only for one day or a few days. Whether it is Deepawali or any other festival, birthday, marriage, wedding reception or New Year celebration, why can’t we celebrate without excessive sound and fireworks? After all, who actually benefits from convincing people that crackers are necessary for celebrations? It is the businesses that manufacture and sell these products. They want people to buy more and more, and we willingly spend our hard-earned money for a few seconds of colourful lights and sound. Think about it: why are we spending our money for a few seconds of pleasure, only to suffer the consequences later through polluted air, excessive noise and environmental damage? The colourful display may disappear within seconds, but the pollution does not simply disappear along with it.

Deepawali also arrives around the time when the seasons begin to change and winter approaches in many parts of the country. There is also a practical seasonal aspect to the traditional practice of cleaning homes before the festival. Cleaning removes accumulated dust, dirt, dampness and unwanted materials, helping maintain a cleaner and more hygienic living environment as the weather changes. Seasonal cleaning and preparing the home for the coming months have long been part of household traditions. We should appreciate such practices and understand the importance of cleanliness and hygiene rather than limiting the festival to decorations and celebrations. The traditional practice of lighting diyas also has a different beauty and warmth. As the nights become longer and the weather gets colder, rows of little flames illuminate homes and surroundings. The Kartika Deep tradition in different parts of India also celebrates the significance of lighting lamps during this period. Why not return to that simplicity? Why not light traditional mud diyas, use natural and eco-friendly products as much as possible, and celebrate the festival in a way that respects nature? At the same time, oil is also a valuable and limited resource, and electricity requires resources too. So even while lighting diyas and decorating our homes, we should be mindful of how much we consume. Light a reasonable number of diyas and use electrical lights thoughtfully rather than unnecessarily illuminating everything. We do not have to compete with our neighbours or turn our homes into displays of excessive consumption.

We must also remember that everyone celebrates Deepawali differently. Some people are fortunate enough to spend the festival with their entire families, while others are away from their homes, working in different cities or countries. Some get holidays and have time to celebrate, while others have to work and may not even get leave. Some buy new clothes, decorate their homes, perform puja, light diyas, prepare sweets and distribute them among friends and relatives. Some enjoy family gatherings, while others are occupied with their daily responsibilities. Some have the financial means to celebrate lavishly, while others may not have enough money for even a simple celebration. For some, it is a festival filled with happiness and excitement; for others, it may just be another regular day. But irrespective of how someone celebrates or what their circumstances are, the essence of the festival can remain the same. Even if someone cannot afford elaborate celebrations, they can light a small diya, offer a prayer and make a beginning towards bringing light into their own lives. Deepawali falls on the dark night of Amavasya, and the lighting of a small diya carries a beautiful reminder: even in darkness, a little light can make a difference. Let that light also represent a new beginning, an opportunity to come out of ignorance, negativity and darkness within ourselves. Let us bring goodness, knowledge, prosperity and positivity into our lives. A diya is not merely a source of light outside; it can also remind us to illuminate our hearts and minds.

Celebrate with anyone, and share your happiness by distributing food and sweets to those who may be missing their loved ones or have no one to celebrate with. A small gesture of kindness can make their Deepawali special too. And if you are alone, don’t worry—celebrate with God, light a diya, offer a prayer and remember that you are never truly alone.

Now comes the familiar argument every year. One group talks about an eco-friendly Deepawali and asks people not to burst crackers, while another group argues that people should have the freedom to celebrate their festivals. But there is another side to this argument that we must not ignore. During birthdays, marriages, wedding receptions and other personal functions, do the same people follow the environmental responsibility they demand during Deepawali? What about Christmas and New Year celebrations, when fireworks are used across different parts of the world? What about celebrations and festivals in other countries? Why do some so-called influencers suddenly appear to lecture people about crackers during Deepawali but disappear when similar fireworks are used during other occasions?

Environmental protection cannot be selective. If crackers create air and noise pollution during Deepawali, they create the same pollution during a wedding, birthday, Christmas, New Year or any other celebration. Nature does not differentiate between festivals, religions, countries or communities. We are all human beings, and protecting nature is everyone’s responsibility. This is not about targeting one festival or stopping anyone from celebrating. It is about understanding that no celebration should come at the cost of damaging our own Mother Nature. Let us stop making this an argument between groups. Let us apply the same principle to every celebration, everywhere in the world. If we genuinely care about the environment, we must practise what we preach throughout the year.

Another important question is about the business behind crackers. Bursting crackers has become a huge commercial business. Manufacturers produce them because there is demand, and people buy them because they want those few seconds of excitement and colourful displays. But if people stop buying them, what will happen? Businesses will eventually stop producing products that no longer have demand. We cannot keep blaming manufacturers while continuing to support the same business through our purchases. Every individual has the power to make a choice. Do not buy crackers if you want to reduce pollution. Encourage your family members and friends to do the same. Support traditional mud diyas and eco-friendly products instead. The change must begin with consumers. Instead of spending money on something that creates unnecessary pollution, why not spend it on our families, traditional diyas, sweets, locally made products or something that brings lasting happiness? Let us not become consumers simply because businesses want to sell more products. Our money, our choices and our demand determine what businesses continue to manufacture. If we stop buying, the demand will eventually decrease. The change begins with us.

At the same time, we must question our governments and authorities. What are governments actually doing to protect the environment? Why do we repeatedly find ourselves debating and arguing with citizens about crackers instead of seeing stronger and consistent action against products and practices that harm the environment? Why are governments not doing enough to regulate or ban genuinely harmful products and industrial practices? Are commercial interests and the profits of powerful businesses being given more importance than the environment and public health? When a business makes huge profits from products that contribute to pollution, should the government not examine the environmental cost and take responsibility?

As people go crazy over firecrackers. At the end of the day, businesses make their profits, and the government gets its share.

Environmental protection should not become a seasonal political discussion or a selective restriction imposed only around a particular festival. Governments must act consistently, and their decisions should be guided by public welfare rather than the profits of businesses or the interests of their friends and associates. But ultimately, no government, influencer or group can change everything unless individuals themselves become conscious. Nobody should have to force us or tell us what to do. We should understand the consequences of our own actions and make responsible choices ourselves. Do not blindly support any group or oppose another group just because they have a particular opinion. Support yourself, your family and the environment in which you live.

At the end of the day, it is your wish and your choice how you want to celebrate a festival. But understand its significance and the purpose behind it. Know why a festival is celebrated and what it represents. Do not get manipulated by the market and its constant promotions, new offers, new products and commercial campaigns. Businesses exist to sell, and they will keep finding ways to make profits from consumers. Do not allow the market to decide how you should celebrate or what you must purchase to feel festive. Celebrate festivals for what they were actually meant to represent, not for what commercial interests have gradually turned them into. Celebrate consciously and responsibly. Do not let the means of celebration overshadow the meaning of the celebration itself. If you want to celebrate, celebrate happily. Light diyas, decorate your homes, enjoy sweets, meet friends and relatives, and spread happiness. But remember that the pleasure of watching colourful fireworks for a few seconds, both visually and through their sound, should not become a reason for creating air and noise pollution that affects everyone for much longer. The momentary excitement of fireworks should not come at the cost of the health, peace and well-being of others.

And this responsibility should not end after Deepawali. Apply it to birthdays, marriages, receptions, Christmas, New Year and every other festival or celebration across the world. Let us use as many eco-friendly products as possible, support local artisans, choose traditional mud diyas, conserve oil and electricity, and reduce unnecessary noise and air pollution. We must remember that we are not protecting nature for someone else. We are protecting it for ourselves, our children and future generations. The air we breathe and the environment we live in belong to all of us. Let us not wait until the situation becomes irreversible. Let every individual become conscious, let every family take responsibility, and let governments act beyond announcements and selective restrictions.

Deepawali is a festival of lights. But what is the deeper significance of this light? The Upanishads offer a beautiful prayer that expresses the very essence of this thought:

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

This ancient prayer from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad means:

Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from mortality to immortality.

The light referred to here is not merely the physical light that removes darkness from our surroundings. It is the light of knowledge, wisdom, awareness and self-realisation within us. It is a prayer for the removal of ignorance and the awakening of truth in our hearts and minds. It reminds us of the journey from falsehood towards truth, from ignorance towards knowledge, and from the limitations of material existence towards the realisation of the eternal Self. Perhaps this is one of the deepest messages we can take from Deepawali. A small diya can illuminate a dark room, but its deeper significance is the reminder to remove darkness and ignorance from within ourselves. As we light diyas in our homes, let us also pray for that light of knowledge and wisdom to awaken within us. Let every diya become a reminder to seek truth, develop understanding, cultivate goodness and bring positivity into our lives.

Let us celebrate the festival with devotion and understanding, rather than blindly following what the market tells us to buy. We do not need excessive crackers to celebrate our traditions or prove our happiness. Let us celebrate every occasion without unnecessarily harming the planet. Let the joy of one person not become the suffering of another living being. Let our celebrations create memories, not pollution. Let us protect Mother Nature, not just for ourselves but also for the generations that will inherit this planet after us. Let us illuminate our homes with diyas and illuminate our minds with knowledge. Let us seek the light of truth within ourselves.

This Deepawali, let us light more diyas, spread more happiness, create less pollution, and pray for the light of knowledge and truth to shine within us. And let this thought continue throughout the year, not just for one festival.

Ab Se Manao Har Deepawali – Deepo Wali!