Diwali 2022 greetings

As the popular mantra goes:

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

The relevance of this age old and very often chanted mantra couldn’t be felt more acutely than its being done today, when we are just seemingly recovering from more than two years of pandemic that turned our lives upside down, resulting in loss of business, jobs and nears and dears for several of us. Each line of the mantra holds so much importance in the context of what we just witnessed and what we continue to witness in the world around us.

The first line says, “ May all be happy”, which is a fervent wish in the hearts of each one of us today.

The second line wishes all of us to be healthy, free from all the ailments. The importance of this can’t be overemphasised when we are just trying to erase horrific memories of oxygen level, ICU, RT-PCR etc.

The third line yearns that all may see and witness only auspicious sights and not the sights entailing suffering from epidemics, wars, poverty, hatred, extremism etc.

The fourth line is a fervent plea to let no one in this world suffer, which becomes so appropriate when we see the suffering of the victims of war in in Ukraine and unprecedented floods in Pakistan apart from others.

Last line is a prayer for peace, which seems to be the most valuable possession today with virtually everyone seeking it irrespective of one’s financial or social status.

What else can one wish on this Diwali day! To sum it up in my own lines:

Diwali is symbolic of the bright overwhelming the dark,

And the evil being killed by the good ;

This Diwali let’s pray and wish each other to be,

Healthy, peaceful, happy and generally good!

Happy Diwali to all!