For Indians, Diwali is Christmas and New Year rolled into one. The Festival of Lights, once celebrated largely within the Indian diaspora, is now becoming a fixture in the American public sphere. As New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar points out, Diwali is now a school holiday in many states. Many mainstream institutions have been hosting Diwali celebrations every year.
This growing visibility of Diwali signifies more than just a cultural recognition; it’s an acknowledgment of a profound, universal message needed now more than ever.
The message is indeed universal. We were reminded by some friends from Suffolk County that in every culture, there is a festival of light — Hanukkah, Christmas, the Lantern Festival, Eid’s crescent moon. Each whispering the same truth: light is universal, and hope is borderless.
Yet, as the external lights of Diwali shine brighter, a deeper inquiry emerges: has the essence of Diwali’s promise been lost in the flurry of Happy Diwali greetings? New Jersey physician Dr Shrenik Shah, who infused spirituality in his practice, says that the festival’s true significance lies beyond the traditional message of light triumphing over darkness.
Dr Shah and other eminent people we contacted for this feature article agree that in a world divided by race, ideology, and identity, Diwali must evolve into an “inward festival”—a powerful spiritual act that calls us to light the non-dual lamp within. Recognizing that the same consciousness permeates all will ultimately pave the way for a collective global healing.
Diwali this year falls on October 20.
Read on for our compilation of enlightening comments in two posts.
Unlocking the light of Diwali in America
~ Jenifer Rajkumar
I successfully campaigned for Diwali to be recognized as a school holiday in New York. Generations of students to come will know that when the school is closed on this day, it’s for the Festival of Lights. Now, as I said at AIA-NY’s Deepavali Festival on October 11 on Long Island, states around the country are following New York’s lead: California, Pennsylvania, and one county in Florida have declared Diwali a holiday in public schools.
I’m proud to announce that this year, I am launching the National Diwali Tour. I will travel around the country, from California to Dallas to Philadelphia, to unlock the light of Diwali. Truly, we Indian Americans as a community have lit a lamp in the hearts and minds of all New Yorkers and all Americans.
Light the non-dual lamp within
~ Dr Shrenik Shah
What is Diwali? And why do we celebrate it?
Under the weight of millions of Diwali wishes on social media, the central message of Diwali somehow seems to have been forgotten or even lost.
Invoking this knowledge is Diwali.
Traditionally, one meaning of Diwali is “Victory of Ram (goodness) over Ravan (evil).” Spirituality says it is not that simple. This is a dualistic approach, which leads to a divisive life, based on race, religion, sex, money, fame, nationality, etc.
Lighting the non-dual lamp within us is the true message of Diwali.
Good and evil are not absolute realities; they rely on each other.
Goodness of Ram would not be goodness without the badness of Ravan and vice versa. Both are needed for Sansar to exist.
But believing in goodness and hating the badness only leads to a divided life.
BOTH ARE WITHIN US, not outside.
And who suffers from it?
Us only.
We need to rise higher.
Judging the Sansar keeps our minds busy all the time, preventing us from looking within.
Take a different approach to Diwali this year.
Go deep, study your own mind. Am I divided into good and bad? Do I choose one over the other? Do I love some and hate others? Am I at peace?
A deep reflection will make one realize the existence of pure and clear consciousness (awareness) within us, which is transcendental and always in a state of neutrality.
Beyond the divisive mind lies pure, undivided consciousness.
This homogenous consciousness is the infinite existence itself.
It is Nirgun, Nirakar, omnipotent, and omnipresent, and its nature is ananda.
The negativities of hatred, ego, desires, anger, greed, etc., are the Ravan in us, and the non-dual Advait state is the Ram in us.
Being in pure consciousness through meditation brings harmony and binds us all in a single thread of consciousness.
“For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me,” said Lord Krishna (Bhagavad Gita 6:30).
This Diwali, do something different.
Light up this non-dual lamp within, and see the emergence of a world around you without divisions, where we all embrace in pure, undivided love.
Spread the real message of Diwali this year.
Looking to Light Beyond the Fracture
~ Ritu Chopra
Deepavali is no longer bound by geography or tradition; it’s a movement of hearts that long to see one another clearly again.
Our shared hunger for warmth, belonging, and hope is fractured by opinions, race, borders, and endless noise in a world that feels all too real. But the flame in each diya does not ask who we voted for, where we were born, or what language we pray in. It just burns, steady and patient, teaching us how to stay luminous in our own small corners until the darkness learns to soften.
What if we carried that intention beyond Diwali, making every home a sanctuary of kindness, every conversation a spark of respect, and every difference a color in the divine spectrum?
Because light doesn’t conquer darkness by fighting it. It simply shows up. Quietly. Consistently. It creates space where fear once ruled. It reminds us that even fractured glass can reflect brilliance when light finds its way through.
On Diwali, as we light diyas, let’s kindle one within, for the unseen, the unfortunate, and the future we build. The Diwali of tomorrow is not just a remembrance of Ram’s return or a celebration of victory over evil; it’s a call to embody that spirit in how we live, forgive, and rise together!
The Diwali of tomorrow could be a global ritual of healing, a vow to rebuild trust and rediscover shared goodness. For when one lamp is lit with love, it has the power to ignite a thousand more, ushering in a Diwali of unity, hope, and enduring brilliance.
Light is Universal, and Hope is Borderless
~ Message from Suffolk County Human Rights Commission and Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Commission, Long Island
Every Diwali, lamps flicker across millions of homes, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. Yet beyond religion or ritual, Diwali holds a deeper promise for our time — a promise of renewal, forgiveness, and hope.
In a world increasingly divided by ideology, identity, and indifference, festivals like Diwali remind us of our shared human need to belong and to begin again. The lighting of a lamp becomes an act of defiance against despair — a declaration that even a small spark can pierce the longest night.
The sweets we share and the homes we clean are not just customs; they are metaphors for the cleansing of the heart, for making space for compassion where bitterness once lived.
The Diwali of tomorrow must be less about fireworks and more about empathy. It asks us to illuminate not just our balconies, but our relationships — to forgive, to listen, and to rebuild trust.
In every culture, there is a festival of light — Hanukkah, Christmas, the Lantern Festival, Eid’s crescent moon — each whispering the same truth: light is universal, and hope is borderless.
When we light our diyas this year, let them stand for something larger — for a collective renewal of kindness, for faith in one another, for a future where we see not strangers, but fellow keepers of light.
Because healing begins when we realize that every flame, no matter where it burns, belongs to all of us.
Long Island Event Spread the Light of Diwali
~ Beena Kothari
A week before Diwali, on October 11, I had the privilege of leading the celebration of the 38th Deepavali Festival as President of the Association of Indians in America (AIA) – New York. Thousands of people converged on Overlook Beach in Babylon, Long Island, to enjoy cultural performances, spiritual presentations, and community celebration. Earlier, the iconic event used to be held at South Street Seaport in Manhattan.
For me, this daylong event was a dream come true… promoting culture, unity, and community engagement. Programming included a devotional music concert, a Ramayan dance drama, and, of course, fireworks that lit up the south shore of Long Island. Many lawmakers and dignitaries graced the event, greeting the gathering of people from diverse communities and recommitting to spreading the Diwali message of renewal, love, hope, and unity.
Fully Understanding the Essence of Festivals is Key
~ Abhishek Mishra
I quote Sant Tulsidas in Ramcharitmanas, “परहित सरिस धरम नहीं भाई। पर पीड़ा सम नहीं अधमाई।।”. This sentiment is promoted in all religions: “There is no greater virtue than doing good to others and no greater sin than causing pain to others.”
Religious festivals across the world aim to spread joy, wisdom, and peace across communities. It is not just Diwali; festivals all over the world bring people together and increase awareness and empathy towards one another. Keeping aside my religious identity as a Hindu, I can celebrate Diwali as Christmas and Christmas as Diwali, and see light in both festivals. Same with Mahavir Jayanti, Buddh Purnima, Eid, and Hanukkah.
These are not merely festivals with religious rituals and observances, but have a common, deeper meaning that represents the human spirit. The world would be a happier and unified place if people truly understood the essence of these festivals in their entirety. Partial or incomplete understanding leads to division, whereas complete understanding will bring us closer together, potentially healing a fractured world.
For second part of this post, go to…
In a world riven by strife, disharmony and disconnection, Diwali reminds us that light is always around and there is …
