Finding the light within

Not too long ago, was the festival of Deepavali, typically celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, around the world. Through its myriad of festivities, it conjured over 1 billion people to dress-up in their best silks, stuff themselves with the tastiest of sweets and savories, laugh pray and dance in merry, and line their houses with lamps and sparklers. Deepavali, literally translates to ‘row of lights’ and celebrates the vanquishing of good over evil, light over darkness. The warmth, light and joy that Diwali brings also becomes a time for everyone to introspect on the negativities that reside within ourselves, and relinquish them to find the light within.

Deepavali’s symbolism and principles have been celebrated constantly in the legendary works of artists. Writers, dancers, musicians, actors, constantly invite you to look inward, just as this festival does. Through their own works of creativity, artists tell us stories of hope and triumph, loss and victory and through their depictions, invite us to think deeper about embracing the good and vanquishing the evil within ourselves.

Indian classical dance and music forms have preserved the stories of the Diwali’s significance in mythological and cultural story-telling. The Hindu epic of the Ramayana, is depicted in all classical dance performances, with choreography and imagery that enable audiences to visualize the valor of Lord Rama, the head-strong belief of Sita, and the ego of Ravana that leads to his eventual demise. A spectrum of cultural arts organizations in India, from Rukimini Devi’s Ramayana performed in Kalakshetra school of dance and music in Chennai, to Odissi depictions of the epic from the Nrityagram school in Bangalore, have represented the tales and virtues of the Ramayana magnificently. Through magical choreographies and empathetic characterizations, they help us as audiences live – even for moments – in the world of the Ramayana, and celebrate the virtues that the victors, Lord Rama and Goddess Sita represent.

Along a similar light, Sufi poet, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmi adorned many of his beautiful verses with the idea of looking within oneself for one to find the light in our being. “We are one. Everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself” Rumi says in his famous prose in ode to God. The messages of Rumi poetry have been widespread as an inspiration for music, meditation and well-being. From a performing arts standpoint, Persian music groups have represented Rumi’s verses and lessons of love, light and life through beautiful expressions through Sufi musical influences and instrument. The chilling notes and trance of the dancers teach us about the universe that lives within us, and the light of pure love and virtue that we seek can be found within ourselves.

Western literature interprets the concept of light and darkness through the inner conflict of characters in theatre. Shakespeare for instance, touched upon the battle between good and evil in each of our souls through many of his literary masterpieces such as Macbeth and Hamlet. Macbeth for instance, peppers in the symbolism of light against darkness through the text, as Kind Duncan says for instance, “signs of nobleness, the light of the stars, shall shine” indicating that a king how acts with nobility like the stars shall shine through the darkness of the sky. The protagonist, Macbeth himself, faces many inner battles around the choices between morality and his thirst for power. The guilt that invades Macbeth’s mind after murdering King Duncan for his own gain, foreshadows his own downfall. “All great Neptune’s ocean” cannot cleanse him—that there is enough blood on his hands to turn the entire sea red—will stay with him until his death” becomes Shakespeare’s way of highlighting the demise of one’s own soul when one chooses the path of darkness.

Deepavali might only come once a year, but it serves us a reminder of the triumph and celebration of the goodness within us. Especially in these trying times of the pandemic, leading with the hope of light in the days ahead has been all the more important for society to reflect on. In these reflections, we realize that artistic masterpieces across cultures and time periods have reminded us of the hope and goodness that we must embrace within us. Celebrating these artistic triumphs with equal measure can help us find the light that we seek today.