All the festivals of Bharat have an inner divine significance. In Bharat, the festivals are celebrated to prove the immanent Divinity in humanity. Deepavali also teaches a sacred inner meaning to humanity. No other element in this world is as significant as light. It is the light that shows us the way by dispelling darkness. It is because of the light that man is able to attend to his daily duties. The flame of a lamp has two significant qualities. One is to banish darkness; the other is a continuous upward movement. Even if a lamp is kept in a pit, the flame is directed upwards. The ancients have taught that the upward movement of the flame denotes the path of wisdom and Divinity. However, the external light can dispel only the external darkness, but not the darkness of ignorance in man. When Hanuman set Lanka ablaze, though there was light all around, Ravana’s heart was filled with darkness. Ignorance is the cause of birth and death. One with ignorance is born again and again—Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam. But the one with wisdom has neither birth nor death. – Divine Discourse, Oct 19, 1998