Diwali, the Festival of Lights, symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and serves as a reminder of the inner brilliance that exists within us all.
Today, over one billion people around the world celebrate Diwali, a festival observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists in various forms. The common theme across these faiths is the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali serves as a reminder that light, in its many shades, is at the core of our existence, transcending faith and belief. Light is not only the essence of the sun but also what enables vision. As we age, light takes on even greater significance, symbolizing knowledge and wisdom. Often, we underestimate the importance of light, which represents both an internal brilliance and an external glow that we can share with others.
The concept of light is one of humanity’s oldest and most universal ideas. It appears at the beginning of our oldest stories. In the Book of Genesis, the first divine command is simply: “Let there be light.” In Hebrew, it is yehi ’or; in Latin, fiat lux—a declaration that continues to resonate through science, art, and faith. Here, light is not merely physical brightness; it signifies the beginning of something new. Across cultures, this initial mention has shaped our understanding of light as life, energy, awareness, and hope.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, embodies this idea in its purest form. The term Deepavali in Sanskrit literally means “a row of lamps.” What began thousands of years ago as a ritual of lighting small diyas—clay lamps filled with oil—has evolved into a global celebration of illumination. For Hindus, it commemorates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana, celebrated with lamps that pierced the night. For Jains, it marks the liberation of Mahavira’s soul. For Sikhs, it recalls the release of Guru Hargobind from imprisonment. For all who celebrate, Diwali is a reminder that light always finds a way to return, no matter how deep the darkness. Whether through mythology, morality, or metaphor, the message remains the same: the human story is a constant journey toward light.
Light also carries context, defining how we perceive the world. Without it, there is no color, form, or perception. Every image we experience—whether a sunset, a face, or a work of art—results from light interacting with matter, with our eyes translating those signals into meaning. As an ophthalmologist, I understand that light is not an abstraction but the essence of vision. The retina’s photoreceptors capture even the faintest glimmers of light and send them racing to the brain, where they become experienced. In this sense, light serves as a bridge between the outer world and our inner selves. When light disappears, whether through physical darkness or visual loss, our orientation shifts, making the world feel uncertain. Thus, light is not only what we see but also how we make sense of reality itself.
Light is also our lifeline. Every moment of our existence depends on it, whether it’s the sunlight nourishing every cell in our body or the artificial glow of our screens connecting us to one another. We rise and sleep according to its rhythm; our circadian clock is literally wired to light. The same energy that allows a seed to sprout also fuels our communication and creativity. Yet, as J. Robert Oppenheimer reflected when he quoted the Bhagavad Gita after witnessing the atomic blast—“If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one”—light also humbles us with its magnitude. It can illuminate or destroy, reminding us that the same force that sustains life can also overwhelm it. How we use light, whether literal or metaphorical, determines the kind of world we inhabit.
Just as light defines what we see, it also shapes how we see. In psychology, perception involves not only the amount of light entering the eye but also the context in which that light is interpreted. The same brightness can feel comforting in one moment and harsh in another, just as the same event can be perceived as a blessing or a burden depending on our state of mind. Light, therefore, is as much about context as it is about physics. This context transforms glare into glow and exposure into enlightenment. To “see in a different light” means to shift perspective and reframe reality. The light we bring to a situation, not just the one that falls upon it, defines our understanding.
This connection between light and perception extends inward to our emotional and mental worlds. We often describe our moods in terms of light and darkness—feeling “dim,” “in the shadows,” or “seeing the light.” These phrases are not mere poetic accidents; they reflect how the human brain links sensory experience with emotional truth. During times of struggle—such as depression, grief, or loneliness—it can feel as though our inner light has gone out. Yet, the same biology that makes us sensitive to sunlight also makes us responsive to symbolic light in the form of kindness, perspective, and community. A single act of compassion can change the entire hue of a day. Light has the power to heal both body and soul.
Light has also been inseparable from knowledge. The Enlightenment was not just a historical period; it was an idea that wisdom dispels ignorance as surely as dawn dispels night. In Sanskrit, vidya means both “knowledge” and “illumination,” while its opposite, avidya—ignorance—literally signifies the absence of light (Upanishads). The Quran describes Allah as the Light of the heavens and the earth (Surah An-Nur, 24:35), a metaphor for divine knowledge radiating into human understanding. In Christian scripture, the Gospel of John begins with: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” In Jewish mysticism, Ohr (light) represents divine emanation—how God’s presence unfolds into creation. Each faith converges on the same insight: to know is to see, and to see truly is to be illuminated.
Our relationship with light evolves as we do. As children, we chase it—fireflies, candles, sparklers. As adults, we rely on it to see, work, and navigate. Over time, light becomes more than a functional necessity; it takes on meaning. We begin to recognize that the most powerful light is not external but radiates from within—from purpose, integrity, and compassion. When we use that light to guide others, we participate in something larger. The teacher who sparks curiosity, the friend who listens without judgment, and the leader who acts with transparency all become carriers of light. Throughout our lives, the way we use light transforms from a source of sight to a source of insight, from something we depend on to something we embody.
Diwali’s enduring power lies in how it unites these meanings of light. It is not merely a festival of lamps, sweets, and new beginnings; it is an invitation to reflect on how light weaves through every aspect of existence—from the spark of creation to the flicker of a candle, from the flash of insight to the quiet glow of compassion. By lighting a lamp, we affirm that darkness is never final and that our task, as individuals and communities, is to keep the light alive.
Some individuals walk among us unnoticed, yet through their humility and goodness, their light holds the world in place. Light is not only what allows us to see; it is what allows us to be.
Source: Original article