Dear excellencies,
Let me thank my dear friend Ranju Batra and Ravi for inviting me to this celebration and giving me the unique opportunity and privilege to be part of probably one of the most important and beautiful festivals celebrated in India, Diwali. I am honored to be here today at this event and participate in the Diwali Award Ceremony.
Some years ago, I had the excellent opportunity to visit and live in India for a short period of time and see by myself the significance of Diwali in India’s rich and incredible culture.
You will probably agree that one of the most beautiful stories ever written is the Ramayana, which, with its delicate and timeless features, has endured the passing of time and still captivates and inspires us.
The hardships that Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother, Laxmana, endure after being exiled by his father, King Dasharatha, is a universal tale with a profound meaning. Rama’s journey to the forest is the unique voyage all of us must make: an adventure into the mysterious. The forest represents the soul entering the dangers of the unknown, a quest for the secrets of nature, and the spiritual trip we must go through to find the real meaning of our life. The path of the unknown through the forest is ultimately the field where all possibilities might occur. It is fresh, new, and fertile ground for germinating new ideas and personal growth.
Diwali, the celebration of the return of Rama and Sita to the city of Ayodhya after defeating the evil king Ravana, has a universal and powerful moral message. Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, prosperity over poverty, hope over despair, and the joy of homecoming.
Here at the United Nations, the Diwali message is central in our daily quest for a better future for all. Diwali reminds us that truth, light, and goodness must always prevail.
Unfortunately, Diwali is yet to be a well-known festival in my country, Chile, but the values that Diwali symbolizes entirely represent us and should be embraced by honest people all around the world.
Dear Ranju, thank you once again for inviting me to this beautiful celebration and for allowing me to recall beautiful memories of my happy stay in India.