Divali comes every night When the wick burns in the night. Lakshmi’s chariot comes into sight to watch darkness turn bright to enjoy the fight of feeble and might. To the one who is no more feeble Divali is no more a riddle. Lakshmi drives in the darkest hour to relish the spectacle of power, power of the earth, oil and wick over obscure domains of ignorance moreover. To the one who sheds ignorance Divali comes every moment. Bear like me, says the wick; Use yourself, says the oil; Chase the evil, prays the earth; Burn the devils, tells the match. To the one who burns animal instincts Divali comes in every eye-wink.

What is Divali to the commoner! A festival coming once a year. The enlightened soul walks everyday in the brilliance of lights in array; To the one who ignites this special light Divali surely comes every night.

When you have many, many miles to tread With shackles and bondages going ahead; When you feel the road is unpaved You would like but to be saved Look for that light. When the path is rough and dark Foes are busy hitting the mark; When gusts and storms whistle and make the lights dwindle protect that light. When in the dark of the night You need all your might. When audacious powers strike clean in hours Remember, find in yourself the light As there is a spark in your eyes, a glow in your mind, a brilliance in your speech, a light in your heart, that is the light of God. Find this light of God in man and reach the promised land. where the wick of education burns in all contemplation Its Divali there for ever everyday, every night hereafter.

Anitah AUJAYEB