Learnings through Light

Letting go of the past may be difficult, but it is worth forgiving and forgetting to start afresh.

Learnings through Light

Letting go of the past may be difficult, but it is worth forgiving and forgetting to start afresh.

Kavitha Yarlagadda

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Diwali is more of an emotion to me. Ever since I was a kid, I always looked forward to it. Lighting diyas and bursting crackers brings back fond memories. Even today—decorating the house for Diwali, sharing sweets, meeting friends and decorating the entrance with flowers and diyas—I always look forward to this one festival, which has been my favorite. The lighting of diyas signifies the triumph of light over darkness, giving us hope of a bright future. The light helps us look at the positive side of life and remove negativity. Cleaning our homes before the festival is a ritual we follow to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi and pray to remove obstacles like bad habits, grudges, anger and jealousy. Letting go of them lightens the burden on our soul, helps us have faith and be at peace.

Diwali is more of an emotion to me.

This also signifies cleaning the cobwebs of the mind, leaving behind feelings of self-doubt and criticism while walking ahead with a confident demeanor. Festivals means new clothes, new items and new beginnings. The joy of celebrating a festival is even more enhanced when I share it with others and spread the joy, lighting up other lives and reveling in the joy of giving. As a family, we always perform puja together, prepare delicacies and sweets, and share them. The evenings are all about lighting diyas and meeting friends. Diwali is auspicious, signifying new beginnings and removing darkness from our inner self and embracing light, love and positivity. Every Diwali, I take an oath to forget and forgive and start afresh.