Lights Bring Positivity In Our Lives
The lighting ceremony has a story to tell
Views about lighting
On Diwali this year, I went out especially to see the decorative lights. The monument above was looking so beautiful. It was spreading cheer around. Crowds had gathered a little away from the monument to see the lighting. Little children were clapping with joy and people were chatting excitedly. The whole environment was full of joy.
Lighting the lamp is so beautiful. Why do we light a lamp or candles? Why do we decorate buildings with colorful lighting?
All religious places have candle lighting, Conferences begin with lighting a lamp. Most festivals have lighting of buildings and special places. What is the reason?
People believe that lighting has an effect on people. Some anecdotal references to it I found in my experiences of meeting people:
Lighting helps the energy or ‘chi’ to flow freely making the people in that place happier and more positive in their outlook
See the building in the picture above the soft blue and yellow lights make you feel positive and happy. Lighting is a Feng Shui cure for the surroundings.
When you go to a restaurant, or a club, or any social place Lamps, soft twinkling lights and chandeliers make your social life feel so thrilling. It creates an aura with yin or yang lighting to activate or deactivate the energy of a specific social area.
Traditions and beliefs about lighting in some countries
The Chinese tradition
A Chinese girl who I met in one of my travels told me that her grandmother believed that the Chinese have lighting designs called a “moon gate” which is like a window, in the shape of a moon, through the light they would look outside with hope and positivity and it signified opening up of avenues for “future possibilities”.
Chinese manufacture amazing lamps and they are known all over the world as Chinese lanterns. According to them, light is a symbol of life, happiness, prosperity, is also a symbol of life, Darkness, is associated with chaos, or death.
The Thai cultural belief
When I went to Thailand, people told me that they had a lighting festival every year. For them, the essence of the Thai Lantern Festival symbolizes new beginnings and good luck.
When you release your lantern or Krathong into a river or into the sky, you are supposed to wish all your problems and bad luck away with it as it is a symbol of new beginnings.
The Sweedish tradition
Being the curious person that I am I asked some Swede friends when I visited Sweden as to why they have a big light on their windows and they told me the tradition of burning a candle and placing it in the window when a member of the family was away. It was a sign of good news and served as a beacon for people moving in the dark.
They love to gift Candles as they represented friendship and as a sign of welcome to others.
Indian traditional beliefs
The Indian traditional belief is that the lamp burns as a message of peace, and of positive brightness. It is an indispensable part of worship in the Hindu religion. Light brings positivity and prosperity but darkness is a symbol for all negative forces, such as bringing destruction, violence, and wickedness.
In all the festivals of the whether Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or Christians India celebrates with lights
Diwali is special. People burn lamps in front of their doors and leave their doors open because Goddess Laxmi is supposed to bring in luck, happiness, and prosperity.
A lamp is lit and offered to the lord because it is expected to remove the darkness inside the heart of a devotee.
Effect of lights
Light creates psychological and physiological effects in the minds of people. Daylight symbolized God in almost every culture. In religious spaces, the design of space and lighting changes according to worship and liturgy.
Warm colors, like red and yellow, indicate passion, excitement, energy, and intensity. Colors, like blues and greens, are considered to be cool and create a sense of calm and peace.
Lighting a lamp in the house morning and evening Positive energy comes to the house and also gives peace of mind.
Lamp lighting ceremony at conferences
The light of the lamp is also considered a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. All conferences in the world start with the lighting the lamp ceremony. It brings unity and seriousness of minds put together before we begin the confluence of minds from the world over.
Light or Halo on spiritual leaders
There is always a halo of light behind the head of religious heads or spiritual people. It represents their purity, knowledge, and profoundness. You can see this in the case of Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims. A powerful light represents the spiritual leader. Some people who have met Dalai Lama say that they become quiet after meeting him because they feel a light behind him and there is peace and calm around him.
The Takeaways
#1. Lights are festive: Lights are lit in all festivals around the world. Christmas cheer is through lights on buildings. Every country celebrates its national day with lights. The USA lights up the White House on 4th July, India lights up on Diwali. The Chinese light upon The Chinese New Year and so on different parts of the world
#2. Light represents knowledge: lighting a lamp is considered an important ceremony before we start any conference or discussion group. It symbolizes wisdom and knowledge and sets the mood of unity to begin working together,
#3. Lights represent positivity: The lights provide happiness and create a happy environment to set the mood for the forward journey. It represents a symbol of happiness and a feeling of togetherness. The joys and upliftment of spirits are tremendous. It has an effect on our physical and mental being too.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude by sending love and light to all my friends.
May These lights light up your life with peace, prosperity, and happiness!
©Dr. Preeti Singh, 2021.
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