Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated with enthusiasm by everyone. This five-day festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and new beginnings. People mark this special occasion by lighting earthen lamps (diyas), adorning their homes with lights, and creating colourful rangoli designs. Diwali will be celebrated on November 12, this year.
It’s a much-anticipated festival for people of all ages, from children to adults and elders. Considering that a significant portion of our population is of kids and teenagers who represent the future of our country, the education and values they learn from our culture during such occasions are of great importance. Here are some life lessons and values of Diwali for kids.
Life Lessons For Kids
The Virtue of Equality
Lord Ram never believed in the caste system. Treating all humans as equals is a fundamental quality of Ramachandra. This quality is beautifully illustrated in the story of Shabari in the Ramayana. Shabari, an elderly woman from a lower caste who lived in the forest, learned of Lord Rama’s arrival. She gathered berries to offer to Rama.
To ensure the berries’ quality, she tasted each one. Despite knowing that Shabari had tasted them, Ram graciously ate all the berries and thanked her for her hospitality. This story teaches us about equality and encourages humanity to work for the greater good of society.
Beware of The Temptations
In the Ramayana, when Ravana planned to abduct Sita, he used Marich, his uncle, to transform into a golden stag and entice the pure-hearted Sita. Sita was captivated by the stag’s beauty and asked Lord Rama to capture it for her. Rama pursued the stag while Ravana kidnapped Sita. This instance from the Ramayana reminds us to be cautious about things that tempt us. A prudent decision today can protect us from impending disasters in the future.
Selflessness
Laxman gave up everything and didn’t expect anything in return. He chose to stay with Ram even though he didn’t have to. He left behind a life of luxury, staying awake for 14 years. Laxman was an incredible example of selflessness. We can try to incorporate his qualities into our lives and not always act out of selfishness.
Patience
Lord Rama and Sita were great examples of patience. Sita willingly accompanied Ram into exile, enduring all the hardships without complaint. She patiently waited for her husband to rescue her from Ravana. Lord Ram showed us that challenges come to an end with strong will and patience. We should learn to persist in difficult times without getting distracted.
Bad Company Never Yields Good Results
Rama accepted 14 years of exile to keep his father’s promise to Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi’s love for Rama turned into hatred because of her advisor Manthara, who influenced her negatively. This shows that bad company can lead to bad results.
Values
Discipline
Diwali usually begins very early in the morning, around 4:00 a.m. This early start is seen as the first step toward leading a disciplined life, a way to awaken the mind and spirit. The sages who started this tradition wanted it to become a part of everyday life. Early morning is considered the best time for increasing productivity, gaining knowledge, practicing good behavior, improving physical and mental health, and achieving success in both personal and professional life.
Goodness
Diwali represents the victory of Lord Krishna over the evil demon Narakashura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. People have three basic qualities – goodness, passion, and destructive tendencies. Since these qualities cannot be completely removed from a person, it’s important to maintain a balance among them. Parents play a role in nurturing goodness in their children’s hearts to ensure they grow up with positive qualities.
Togetherness
Diwali is a time for families to come together. It’s a reminder of the value of unity and the happiness that comes from being with loved ones. It’s also a time for children to seek blessings from their elders and learn the importance of showing respect.
Kindness
Festivals are all about making the people around us happy, and real happiness comes from small acts of kindness. Diwali is a time when we engage in such generous and caring actions to bring joy to others.
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