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Religion in everyday life
obstacles with his spiritual energy, then there is cause for happiness and celebration. During the agricultural revolution, celebration came to the masses in the form of the Holika festival. This comes year after year as a representation of our tradition and culture. On this auspiscious occasion, we greet each other and experience social happiness and well being. During this Holīkā festival, the Brahmanas, Kṣatriyas, Vaisyas and Śūdras shed their differences and celebrate with each other. No discrimination remains on this festive occasion. This is a pious symbol of our ancient culture. This festival teaches each and every person the lesson of love and merges the boundaries of high and low. In the present time, some corruptions have crept into this festival. Bad words and bad actions are being considered an important aspect of this festival. But this is not how it used to be. It is good that we laugh and make others laugh with us, but how can we laugh at the expense of others by ridiculing them and justify it as a tradition? There should be laughter in life, but not one that causes hurt. We celebrate festivals even today, but only as a celebration of the body. The soul is forgotten. The need of the hour is to understand the soul of any festival, not merely its materialistic pleasures. Only then joy and celebration will take a true form. The festival of Holi will be worthwhile if we find true happiness in togetherness.
The festival of Dīpāvalī is also a famous festival of India. Just like Holi, this is also a social and national festival celebrated by one and all with great splendour. This is a question I am often asked what is the aim of this festival? Among those who celebrate Dīpāvalī, no distinctions of creed and caste are considered. This is the primary reason why we celebrate this festival. When we question the reasons for celebrating any festival, then its fundamental form appears before us. Similarly, to understand the background of this festival, let us examine its natural implications. During the monsoons the humidity in the atmosphere rises making it an ideal time for insects and poisonous creatures to breed. The sky is covered with dark clouds, and the whole atmosphere seems to be shrouded in darkness. Due to the heavy downpour of rain it becomes
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