Rajan Parrikar Photo Blog

Diwali – Festival of Lights

Northern Lights at 66ºN.

Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, will be celebrated tomorrow. At these high latitudes in Iceland, we make do with our own version of Lights.

Diwali (Deepavali) admits multiple interpretations, all having their basis in the triumph of Virtue over Vice.

The festival marks the return of Lord Rama, His wife Sita, and brother Lakshman from their 14 years in exile. The period is also closely linked to Goddess Lakshmi, the repository of Wealth (in the broadest sense).

The defining event, however, is the beheading of Narakasura by Krishna.

In Narakasura were embodied darkness (tamas), ignorance (avidya), ego (ahamkara), and base proclivities (adharma). He had his comeuppance at the hands of Krishna who, after a fierce battle, summoned his sudarshan-chakra (discus) to behead Narakasura.

Diwali symbolises a renewal of the memory of Krishna‘s triumphal moment and the restoration of Light (i.e. Dharma).
 
Northern lights in Ketildalir, Westfjords, Iceland

Þór’s sabre – Hvestudalur, Westfjords of Iceland
5DS, TS-E 24L II

 
Northern Lights at Jokulsa a Fjollum, Iceland

Jökulsá á Fjöllum – North Iceland
5D Mark II, 14L II

 
Northern Lights in Sólheimasandur, Iceland

Sólheimasandur – South Iceland
5D Mark III, Zeiss 15mm Distagon

 
 
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