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Good Morning. It is Diwali today, a festival that has become more and more popular in Britain. It is celebrated in temples, homes, schools, and in the streets, and in the Houses of Parliament. No. 10 do an annual Diwali party, and the fact that Oxford Colleges are hosting Diwali formal dinners means it has, by an interesting process of osmosis, become part of the establishment.

People celebrate Diwali for all kinds of reasons. It’s a festival of many stories and traditions. For Hindus it’s a family festival, but it’s also a religious festival, and a spiritual festival.

A Diwali story of note is that of the kidnap of Sita by Ravana. Sita, who is Mother Earth, was the wife of Rama, who is an avatar – the Lord come to earth. The Lord is seen here to have a special relationship with the earth, and with this world. Ravana, who was a worldly, wealthy, and handsome chap – wanted to possess Sita. He wanted it all, certainly more than he needed. He felt entitled to grab another’s wife. In this case he laid claim to Sita, who he did not own. Ravana kidnapped Sita and Rama fought and killed him, to rescue his wife – to protect the earth from such greed.

At Divali as the story is recounted we cheer Rama and we boo Ravana because Ravana is arrogant and greedy. But a little Ravana exists in us all – hopefully only a little. He represents our desire for more than we need, our abuse of the earth, our abuse of power, and our illusion in thinking we truly own anything.

Dear Lord, on this day let us remember the Ravana in our hearts and ask you to defeat him again so that we can love you again, acknowledging our need and restraining our greed. Hare Krishna