Ashhar Alam

Some festivities become special because of the people who make us feel like home. I experienced something similar during my student days at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi, when a Diwali celebration with my friend Balmukund Thakur became a memory I still cherish.

Unforgettable experiences

During my undergraduate years, I had many classmates, but my friendship with Balmukund, whom I fondly called Mukund, was different. We shared a special bond and spent hours together after classes, discussing everything from everyday matters to society, culture and life. Although we sometimes held different opinions on certain subjects, our disagreements never came between us. Instead, our friendship taught us that differences need not create distance between people.

In 2019, as Diwali approached, Mukund found himself in an unexpected situation. Since the university holidays were short, he could not travel home and stayed back in Delhi. While most students were preparing to celebrate the festival with their families, he was facing the prospect of spending it away from his loved ones.

One evening, while visiting him in his room I sensed that something was troubling him. After a little conversation, I asked him the reason behind his not so happy demenour. He looked at me and said, "Friend, this time I'll have to celebrate Diwali alone."

His words stayed with me for a moment. I replied without hesitation, "Why alone? I am here. I'll celebrate Diwali with you."

His face suddenly lit up with a smile; the sadness that had wrapped his face a minute earlier disappeared. He looked at me and said, "Friend, hearing this, it felt like a resurgence. I know my friend is with me."

Those words made me realise that sometimes, the greatest gift we can offer someone is simply our presence. I had only made a small promise, but for Mukund, it meant that he would not have to face the festival alone.

We decided to celebrate Diwali together and headed to the nearby market. We bought diyas, decorations and sweets and stuff required for Puja, etc. What began as an ordinary evening soon turned into preparations for a celebration that would bring two friends closer.

The following evening, I got ready and went to Mukund's room. Together, we lit the diyas and sat through the puja, sharing the warmth and happiness of the occasion. The soft glow of the lamps, the festive atmosphere and the simple joy of being together made the room feel like home.

After the prayers, we shared sweets and exchanged wishes. There was no elaborate arrangement or grand celebration, but the happiness of that evening was beyond anything money could buy. Before the celebration ended, we prayed that the lamp of our friendship continues to burn bright, and become brighter with every passing year.

Looking back, I feel that the evening represented something much bigger than a festival celebration. Diwali is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of Hinduism, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Yet, its message of hope, warmth, compassion and togetherness can touch hearts across communities and backgrounds.

For me, celebrating Diwali with Mukund was never about belonging to the same religious tradition. It was about respecting his faith, sharing his happiness and ensuring that he did not feel alone on a day that meant so much to him. Our friendship was not defined by the differences in our religious or cultural backgrounds, but by the affection and understanding we shared.

India's cultural diversity is often reflected in its festivals, languages, food and traditions. But perhaps its most beautiful expression can be found in ordinary moments when people from different communities make an effort to share each other's joys and sorrows. Such gestures may not make headlines, but they quietly strengthen the bonds that hold society together.

Years have passed since that Diwali, but the memory remains as fresh as the light of those little diyas. I may not remember every conversation we had that evening, but I will never forget the happiness on Mukund's face when he realised he would not be celebrating alone.

That day, we lit a few earthen lamps, but the warmth they created went far beyond the walls of a university room. It reminded me that festivals become truly beautiful when they bring people closer, and that friendship, like a diya, can illuminate even the loneliest corners of life.

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Some lamps illuminate homes, but some friendships illuminate hearts.