Divine Life Society of South Africa celebrated Deepavali at all its Ashrams and many of its branches on Monday, 20 October 2025. At Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, Ganga Arati commenced at 4pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans and a reading on the significance of Deepavali.
The following excerpts of the reading taken from Hindu Fasts and Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda, succinctly captured the essence of Deepavali.
“Deepavali or Diwali means ‘a row of lights’. It falls on the last two days of the dark half of Kartik (October-November). For some it is a three-day festival. It commences with the Dhan-Teras, on the 13th day of the dark half of Kartik, followed the next day by the Narak Chaudas, the 14th day, and by Deepavali proper on the 15th day.
“There are various alleged origins attributed to this festival. Some hold that they celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi to Lord Vishnu. In Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Kali. It also commemorates that blessed day on which the triumphant Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. On this day also Sri Krishna killed the demon Narakasura.
“In South India, people take an oil bath in the morning and wear new clothes. They partake of sweetmeats. They light fireworks which are regarded as the effigies of Narakasura who was killed on this day. They greet one another, asking, ‘Have you had your Ganges bath?’ which actually refers to the oil bath that morning as it is regarded as purifying as a bath in the holy Ganges.
“Waking up during the Brahmamuhurta at 4am is a great blessing from the standpoint of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work and spiritual advancement. It is on Deepavali that everyone wakes up early in the morning. The sages who instituted this custom must have cherished the hope that their descendants would realise its benefits and make it a regular habit.
“In a happy mood of great rejoicing village folk move about freely, mixing with one another without any reserve, all enmity being forgotten. People embrace one another with love. Deepavali is a great unifying force. Those with keen inner spiritual ears will clearly hear the voice of the sages, ‘O Children of God! Unite, and love all’. The vibrations produced by the greetings of love which fill the atmosphere are powerful enough to bring about a change of heart in every man and woman in the world. Alas! That heart has considerably hardened, and only a continuous celebration of Deepavali in our homes can rekindle in us the urgent need of turning away from the ruinous path of lust, hatred and greed.
“On this day Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year. The homes are cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated at night with earthen oil-lamps. The finest and most beautiful illuminations are to be seen in Bombay and Amritsar. The famous Golden Temple at Amritsar is lit in the evening with thousands of lamps placed all over the steps of the big tank. Vaishnavites celebrate the Govardhan Puja and feed the poor on a large scale.
“O Ram! The light of lights, the self-luminous inner Light of the Self is ever shining steadily in the chamber of your heart. All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a ray of the inner Light of the Self. Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Withdraw the senses. Fix the mind on this Supreme Light and enjoy the real Deepavali, by attaining inner illumination”.
The Master’s poignant message for all earnest seekers is again encapsulated in, “Many Deepavali festivals have come and gone. Yet the hearts of the vast majority are as dark as the night of the new moon. The house is lit with lamps, but the heart is full of the darkness of ignorance”.
The significance of light is also exemplified by the Master. He explains that the external, physical light is intended to remind us that our essential nature is Light - that the Atman, one’s own real Self, is the Light of all lights, and that Light lends luminosity to countless suns, moons and stars in the infinite universe. He further explains that it is ignorance that produces a semblance of darkness.
May we encapsulate, imbibe and internalise the Master’s profound meaning of Deepavali, look at its transformative meaning and power and realise the Atman within, thus moving from darkness unto light.
