Happy Diwali! Celebrating Hope and Joy

Today Indians celebrate a major holiday. Diwali or Deepavali is the festival of lights is celebrated to rejoice the win of the good over evil - to celebrate the return of the prodigal son Rama after he vanquished Ravana.

Normally a holiday that brings immense joy, mirth, happiness, and overindulgence of sweet treats and delicious foods, Diwali in 2020 is different. In 2020, coming on the heels of a tumultuous election and the pandemic raising its hateful head, angry conversations amongst families and friends over everything, and for many mourning the loss of life, Diwali brings hope. We all desperately seek hope.

The celebration of Diwali starts by giving the house a good clean. Today I will sit and cleanse my mind of anger and sadness. I will purge my mind of conflict and try to bring some calm to my whirling emotions. This cleansing is so important to remove grime and worry in our souls and ready the mind for brightness.

Diwali is celebrated by lighting lamps that bejewel the houses. Millions of lamps are lit across the world. The traditional earthen lamp reminds me of my connection to the earth. It reminds me to care for the earth and maintain the joys that the mother earth provides us. The oil that is poured into the lamp signifies calm with the potential to burst into the fire – it reminds me that I must care for my loved ones and my community. The wick reminds me that I am the conduit for the larger plan – my work, my family, and my world. And the flame, the brightness, gives me hope, and brings the promise of joy and dispels darkness.

This Diwali, I light the lamp to celebrate the frontline workers. I light a lamp to my medical community- to uphold the promise of caring for others. I hope the light breaks the dense darkness that has settled around us- after the innumerable losses, the long hours and uncomfortable garb while caring for patients. I hope the light acts as a beacon and instills a sense of purpose to those who do not see the need to help others. I light the lamp for all students who miss their schools and all teachers who work heroically to continue to shine knowledge.

I light a lamp for my elderly patients and my mother and parents in law across the world – valiantly remain alone in their houses – waiting for the pandemic to end.

But above all I light a lamp for the country and the world – because we need hope within this darkness; and we need our sense of community to overcome the darkness.

So, my friends, this Diwali – I hug my loved ones virtually. Instead of the happy parties, I will use silence and the lamp to celebrate life, to celebrate the essential goodness of humanity, to provide gratitude for life, relationships, and the human experience. And I look forward to eating the sweet treats that my friends have lovingly made. Happy Diwali.