Today marks the celebration of Diwali, one of the most cherished and meaningful festivals in Indian culture. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and is celebrated in various forms by all religions that originated in India. Every branch of Hinduism acknowledges the profound significance of Diwali. At its core, the message of Deepawali reflects the spirit of human endeavor — a true embodiment of Indian culture. The stories associated with this festival emphasize the role and strength of Grihalakshmi (the goddess of the household), highlighting the respect and reverence for women — a value deeply ingrained in Indian tradition, unlike in many Western narratives. Diwali also teaches that both men and women share equal responsibility in sustaining and progressing the household. The story recited during tonight’s puja tells of a poor man who is saved from his hardships through the intelligence and resourcefulness of his daughter-in-law. Such folk tales, often told during Indian festivals, contain timeless lessons about practical life. It was for this very reason that, around 1932, Mahatma Gandhi — the Father of the Nation — remarked that while the people of India may be poor or illiterate, they are by no means foolish. He made this statement when the Indian National Congress decided that, in a free India, every adult — man or woman, regardless of caste or creed — would have the right to vote. Indeed, in India, every great festival is intertwined with a folk tale, carrying with it a deeper moral and cultural truth.
The story of Diwali also tells us how a Grihalakshmi transforms poverty into prosperity. In the story, a daughter-in-law, through her father-in-law, empowers the entire family and establishes unity within the household. A family can only remain united when there is unity, and on this basis, both men and women are empowered. In this context, the Grihalakshmi takes on the responsibility of maintaining peace and happiness in the home. If we analyze carefully, democracy in India begins at home. In the Diwali story, the family of a poor Brahmin man was synonymous with strife and promiscuity. When the new bride of this house observes this, she understands the reason: except for her father-in-law, all the male members of the family were extremely lazy and idle. The bride convinces her father-in-law to require every man in the family to go out to do some work and not return empty-handed. Even if she doesn’t find any work, she should bring mud or firewood, but her hands should never be empty. Following this rule, one day her father-in-law comes home with a dead snake, and the strong daughter-in-law asks her father-in-law to throw it on the roof. This is connected to the incident in which the queen’s necklace disappears from a hook in the bathroom, and an eagle picks it up in its beak and disappears. Upon seeing a dead snake lying on the roof of a poor Brahmin’s roof, it drops the necklace and carries away the dead snake. My purpose is not to tell a story, but to reveal the message behind it: only a person of action can enjoy the material pleasures of life. In Hinduism, folk tales hold a profound message. Therefore, those who consider rituals merely a sham should understand the importance of these popular stories. This message is meant to unite the entire society, but this unity begins first within the family. Hence this proverb,
Jahaan sumati tahaan sampatti naana,
Jahaan kumati tahaan vipatti vidhaana.
The role of the wife of the housewife is paramount in fostering harmony and consensus within the family. It is the housewife who fosters this harmony. She does so with the consent of all family members, meaning that unity within the family is a prerequisite for progress. In a democracy, this path is followed to achieve prosperity and happiness throughout the country. Parties with different ideologies occupy positions in our Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. Of course, they enter the elected houses strongly opposing each other during elections, but once elected, representatives in the opposition have the same fundamental rights as members of the ruling party. Therefore, in a parliamentary system, efforts are made to establish consensus on any issue between the opposition and the ruling party within the elected houses. This is why bills introduced by the government are discussed. During this discussion or debate, points emerge that demonstrate equality between the ruling party and the opposition, even though the government is formed only by the party with the majority. Therefore, the seeds of democracy are sown in the very foundation of Indian culture. On Diwali, the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, bestows her blessings on a poor Brahmin family only when the entire family becomes industrious. This industriousness and industriousness brings prosperity to the family and the nation. Lighting lamps on Diwali is not a mere pretense; it is a symbol of society’s industriousness. Light certainly propels us forward, revealing the opportunities surrounding us, while renouncing laziness. A nation can progress only when its people are industrious. Today, India is riddled with problems. We still hear heartbreaking stories of atrocities against Dalits. Such a caste-ridden mentality is synonymous with darkness. Every year Diwali comes and we start talking about Ram Rajya, but that kingdom will come only when we remove the darkness within us and move towards the light of an egalitarian society.
