Lamps Across Letters: Diwali’s Journey from Myth to Mail

Lamps Across Letters: Diwali’s Journey from Myth to Mail

Lamps Across Letters:

 Diwali’s Journey from Myth to Mail

-Bruhaspati Samal-

When twilight descends and the first lamps are kindled across courtyards, India rediscovers its oldest metaphor — light as liberation. Diwali, or Dipavali, the “row of lamps,” is not just a festival but a philosophy — a living allegory of illumination over ignorance, virtue over vice, and gratitude over greed. Rooted deeply in the country’s mythological and moral soil, it remains one of humanity’s most enduring celebrations of hope. From the joyous homecoming of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravaṇa, to the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura, and the worship of Goddess Lakṣmi and Kali across regions, Diwali represents the multi-voiced triumph of good over evil. It is at once royal and rural, mythic and moral — a reaffirmation that darkness, whether moral or material, is never permanent. The clay diya thus becomes both symbol and sermon — a small, trembling beacon that teaches resilience.

Every Indian region retells the festival in its own melody. In Bengal, it’s the night of Kali Puja; in Gujarat, business ledgers are closed and reopened with sacred invocation; in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Naraka Chaturdashi signals cleansing from within. Yet, despite varied legends, the underlying rhythm remains universal — purification, prayer, prosperity, and the promise of renewal. In Odisha, the festival carries a unique and graceful imprint. Known as “Badabadua Daka”, it is celebrated by lighting lamps and invoking the ancestors — “BADABADUA HO, ANDHAARE AASITHILA, ALUA RE JAA .....”. The flickering diyas guide departed souls back to their celestial abode after the Pitru Paksha, symbolizing reverence to lineage and continuity of family virtue. Houses and villages glow with the sacred light of remembrance, blending devotion with ecology, as Odias use earthen lamps, natural oils, and floral decorations to sanctify both home and earth. In the land of Lord Jagannath, Diwali is therefore not merely a festival of lights but a prayer for peace among generations — living and departed.

Across the seas, Diwali now glows as a global citizen. From the serene courtyards of Kathmandu to the neon-lit streets of Singapore, from London’s Trafalgar Square to New York’s Times Square, its spirit of light has transcended geography. In multicultural democracies like Canada, Australia, and the United States, the festival is no longer confined to the diaspora; it has entered civic calendars and public consciousness, celebrated by communities of all faiths as an emblem of harmony and shared joy. In 2023, the U.S. even declared Diwali a federal observance in several states — a milestone in cultural diplomacy.

This global recognition has also found a quiet yet profound expression through the humble postage stamp — that small, sticky square which travels the world carrying not just letters but legacies. Various postal departments across the world have honoured Diwali through exquisite philatelic tributes, turning mythology into miniature art. In the United States, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued its first Diwali “Forever” stamp in 2016 after a seven-year campaign by Indian-Americans. The design, featuring a traditional diya against a shimmering gold background, embodies the festival’s central theme — light conquering darkness, good triumphing over evil. It marked the first time the American postal system officially acknowledged Diwali’s place in the nation’s multicultural identity. Canada Post, too, has celebrated Diwali through multiple stamp releases. In 2017, it issued a joint commemorative stamp with India Post, symbolizing the strong cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations. Later designs, such as the 2020 issue featuring a radiant diya against a geometric rangoli-inspired background, and the 2023 issue adorned with marigolds and mango leaves — traditional motifs of festivity — brought Indian aesthetic sensibilities into global philatelic art. Singapore Post, in the year 2000, also released a Deepavali stamp showcasing traditional motifs and lotus-inspired patterns. Later issues incorporated silver glitter foil, blending modern printing artistry with the timeless radiance of the festival. Even the United Nations Postal Administration has joined this global homage, issuing special Diwali stamps to honour the festival’s message of peace, unity, and enlightenment — values that transcend national boundaries. And, India Post, the guardian of the nation’s postal heritage, has issued numerous Diwali-themed stamps and special covers over the decades. These feature diyas, rangolis, and festive imagery that mirror the luminous variety of Indian traditions. The 2017 joint issue with Canada Post remains particularly memorable, representing friendship illuminated by shared cultural pride.

Each of these stamps — whether printed in Washington or New Delhi, Toronto or Singapore — is more than a collectible; it is a passport of light, a quiet sermon in miniature, carrying India’s message on civilization to the corners of the world. Through philately, Diwali has become a universal dialogue between cultures — proof that even the smallest lamp, when shared, multiplies its glow.

The morale of Diwali is timeless and tender: illumination is not just physical but moral. The act of lighting a lamp each year is a vow to chase away ignorance, to purify hearts, and to celebrate the victory of compassion over chaos. As communities now seek sustainable celebrations — quieter fireworks, eco-friendly diyas, and shared charity — the festival continues to evolve without losing its essence. 

In the end, when the lamps fade and the night grows silent, what remains is not the memory of fireworks but the warmth of fellowship. Diwali reminds humanity that the most sacred light is not found in lamps or lanterns, but in the human spirit — ever glowing, ever giving. For, in every diya lit, India whispers to the world. Let there be light — within, without, and forever.

(The author is a Service Union Representative and a columnist. Mobile: 9437022669)

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