One way of understanding India is to understand our festivals. True, we need faster and more equitable economic growth so that people can enjoy life without the pain of poverty and want. But let us not be too fixated by the attractions of material prosperity. There are far more precious things to learn from our festivals than money can buy. They tell us about India’s civilisational continuity. Else, why should Rama’s return to Ayodhya several thousand years ago be celebrated as the festival of lights even now? Ever been to Hardwar at Diwali time and seen people leave diyas in the Ganga after the evening aarti? As the lamps are carried by the waters, whose journey begins in the sacred Himalayas and ends in the ocean in Bengal, you can experience your own life’s journey in Time, from its beginning-less past to its endless future. Our festivals tell us about the importance of thanksgiving to the Creator. They tell us how to discover happiness, harmony and life’s meaning in ourselves and in our relationship with others, with nature, with the cosmos. Therefore, this Diwali, let us light the lamp in our inner self, so we can better appreciate the illumination in the streets and fireworks in the sky.