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Lights will guide you home: Charles Assisi on the spirit of Diwali

Updated on: Nov 11, 2023, 20:18:14 IST
By Charles Assisi
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PREMIUMWoman with the Lamp / Glow of Hope by SL Haldankar; watercolour, 1945-46. Pause, hold the light up to the self, reflect on your world: that has always been the true message of Diwali.
Woman with the Lamp / Glow of Hope by SL Haldankar; watercolour, 1945-46. Pause, hold the light up to the self, reflect on your world: that has always been the true message of Diwali.
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It’s ironic that smog now defines a festival of light over darkness. Fireworks, after all, are only a few centuries old, while Diwali goes back millennia.

One of my favourite works of art is a painting by SL Haldankar titled Woman with the Lamp. To my mind, it epitomises what Diwali is about: to hold a light up to the self, and reflect and meditate on the self and everything around.

Right now, this appears urgent. As the air quality index (AQI) in large cities such as Delhi and Mumbai dips to “severely poor” and becomes unbreathable, it is time to ask: Do we have to

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Explore the latest Lifestyle News on health, fashion, travel, relationships, food and festivals. Find useful tips, expert advice, trends and inspiring stories for everyday living.
Explore the latest Lifestyle News on health, fashion, travel, relationships, food and festivals. Find useful tips, expert advice, trends and inspiring stories for everyday living.
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