Diwali, the great Indian festival - it is traditionally a Hindu festival, but has over the years become a secular societal festival with very little emphasis on its hindu roots - is here. Quite a few of our friends have asked us about Diwali, because we often (while explaining it) equate it to Christmas celebrations here in North America - just exponentially much bigger. So here comes …
Mythologically speaking, Diwali marks the return back of Lord Rama (incarnation of god Vishnu) after 14 years of exile during which he slayed Ravana (the demon king) and a horde of other evil entities to rid the world of them (which was the primary reason for god Vishnu taking up a mortal human form and coming as Lord Rama). Incidentally, Ravana, who happened to be one of the most learned earthlings at that time and was highly trained in the art of war, was the king of Lanka - the modern day Sri Lanka. Lanka happened to be about the most distant place from Ayodhya, capital of Lord Rama’s kingdom, so he had to kill all evil to get to Ravana and hence the mass evil cleaning and rejuvination of the world. People of Ayodhya celebrated by turning the night into day through a huge display of lights - hence the name “Diwali” which comes from “Deepawali” which literally means “festival of light”. It is a fascinating story and one should try getting a hold of it if one can. And please feel free to send me your questions if you are stuck with an aspect that you cant just interpret.
Coming to modern times, the “light” aspects are still there. The whole of India is lighted - not the night for folks worried about green gases and pollutions - and in addition we have picked up the habit of blowing firecrackers and fireworks. Well, the extent of the firecrackers and fireworks is impossible to capture because frankly no one in North America (or anywhere outside India) can really put a context to it. Just to give you an example, just my neighbourhood (with about 25000 people) would blow more of them than I have seen being launched as a part of Canada Day behind the parliament building. So, bottomline, it is huge. Businesses are rumored to do about 50% of their yearly business during the week of Diwali. Everyone shops, everyone shops beyond their means, and most of it goes up in smoke with a loud bang … and a smog that hangs over India for about four months after. It is a joyous occasion though. For people who have always admired India for its secular roots and are mesmerized by how people from such different religions and backgrounds can live together, Diwali is a perfect occasion to follow to truly understand what kind of social institutions hold India together. Like I mentioned above, very few look at it as a hindu festival anymore - which truly is a celebration of the assimilation and integration of the broader society in India. Over the centuries, it has morphed into a collective societal celebration of good over evil, an occasion to live a couple of days of a charmed life (even though it is just “couple of days” for a vast majority) for the whole society and a time to forget (and forgive) the accumulated differences. Bottomline, even with the smog and smoke, Diwali is (without exaggeration) India personified. It marks a new yearly begining, a new perspective of “good vs. evil” based on personal introspection and frankly a reason to “blow firecrackers”.
And then no conversation on Diwali is complete without a reference to the Diwali Economy. I have already spoken to Diwalis influence on the regular economy, projections of 50% of the annual business being done in the week of Diwali, but the extent of the underground Diwali economy is astoundingly huge. In essence, Diwali is when the Indian black money comes into the market in droves. A related aspect of Diwali that is truly breathtaking relates to “Diwali Gift Giving”. Diwali also (in my opinion) supports corruption in India like no other institution and/or occasion. It happens to be a god sent for those who are seeking benefits and those who dole out benefits. It is a perfect occasion to give someone something (as big as you want) to seek something later - all in the name of God. A gift given on Diwali can help you ride the next eleven months on the favoured carpets of your boss. Example, Diwali is the perfect occasion to send your love and respect (and currency) to your local politician without invoking the wrath of the vigilance bureau and it can be done with a sense of humility and spirituality that only comes with a celebration of “good over evil”. In these days of “axis of evil” with a focus on isolation and destruction of the evil, I would fathom that there is a hightened sense of legitimacy to this practise. But then to look at it with a fair view, everyone has to have money to blow those firecrackers … it is Diwali and Lord Rama did specifically ask for a 48 hour window when we should all close our eyes to all such things and just bask in the magic of Diwali.
Happy Diwali all. It is a wonderous occasion, and hopefully it will keep bringing the joy to the billions that I have only seen Diwali bring.
“Diwali Mubarak”
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on Sunday, October 26th, 2008 at 10:24 am and is filed under Entrepreneurship/Innovation.
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