As a child I listened with rapt attention to the tales of ghosts my nani used to describe which she had experienced or had heard others narrating. Fascinated as any toddler would be I wanted to know more of this curious phenomenon I had heard so often about. I was swept away into the world of dead women adorning fine jewelery laughing hysterically or handsome men whose reflections never appeared in a mirror. With the passing of years I grew deeply inquisitive of why people feared the dead so much. I never failed to notice alcoves in temples where a valiant earthen diya would always burn bright, fighting darkness and evil and making way for bright sunshine of the day.These alcoves were an integral part of every Hindu home I went to. Every night fuel of devotion powered the diya to ward off all evils.
With training in liberal arts opening new corridors I found that this faith in light was not restricted to Hinduism. The concepts of good and evil, life and death and possible afterlife, light and darkness and good spirit and bad spirit were deeply entrenched in the beliefs of all religions. The alcove that I found in my nani's home had a substitute everywhere I could see. Candles replaced earthen diyas in churches and fire replaced candles in Zoroastrian temples.
It is ironical that we have not been able to rid ourselves of the fear of the unknown, considering that we have been able to master our circumstances. Why do we consider darkness to be so impure? Why is darkness always associated with the awakening of the unknown? How is it that every major religion has developed the concept of decreeing darkness to an eternal punishment?Its probably in the garb of darkness that we commit the most insidious crimes. Maybe thats why. Or is it that we blame darkness for no reason at all?
We are still enchanted with horror movies and stories and the best time to see them is night. It is then that we look towards at the alcove of light and faith to provide warmth and protection.
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