Diwali. Poem by Nabakishore Dash

A festival of lights
when diyas (little earthen
oil lamps) are kindled
in the evening of a
new moon day in
the sacred month of Karthik
(October and November) .
People arrange rows of lamps
in various designs that are
nice and artistic.

Prior to the festival
houses are cleaned
and decorated,
symbolize cleaning
of minds to remove stains
of bitterness, resentments,
unpleasant past experiences.
Furnish thoughts with goodness,
fragrance, love and
righteousness.

The oil in the lamp
is the oil of devotion,
the wick of cotton
represents our ego, hatred,
cynicism and discrimination,
which are burnt by ignition,
the flames emanated
dispels the darkness of ignorance.
overflowing our hearts
with light of true wisdom
to bestow us solace.

Wearing new clothes
represents new ness
in life style, habits
and thought.
Eating and distributing sweets
are to make our language
and words reverent, sweetest.

The oil and wick are
burnt away with advancement
of night and shade returned.
Symbolized that nothing
is constant in this
transient world.

The deep seated meaning
of this sacrosanct festival
is to eliminate our demonic
and enhance our divine traits.
May deter us from
running after material wealth,
meaning less comforts and
other worldly pursuits,
bless us with eternal happiness.