It feels like every year now a subsection of Sikhs, who are addicted to self-victimisation, call for a ban on fireworks and light in recognition of some tragedy. I get the motivation, but what are we signaling by doing this? Surely, we should be doing an extra bright Divali to show our enemies that no matter how hard they hit us, we will still remain in Chardi Kala and celebrate the moral victory of those who fought a Dharam Yudh or gave sacrifices for the Panth. The only Kala Divali I would expect is if we were so completely demoralised or defeated that we physically couldn't have a bright Divali. And then the enemy would have truly won.
I do not accept any ritualistic activities of communal mourning, this is the role of wailing women, not the Khalsa. Victim mentality is not Khalsa mentality. Being in Chardi Kala is. Want to honour our Shaheeds sacrifices? Then become Khalsai, practice and promote Khalsa traditions, reject Bhamanism and become Tyar Bar Tyar. Show defiance in the face of tyranny, and celebrate victory of light against the darkness. Do extra fireworks, light extra Divai.
So I encourage Sangat to all ignore all calls for "Kala" Divali, especially the mandates of the illegitimate squatters residing in the Akal Takht building. They are not popes, and do not hold any legitimate spiritual or temporal authority over Sikhs. Sikhs follow the Guru, and the Guruship today resides in the Guru Granth Sahib and decentralised amongst the Guru Khalsa, made up of self-autonomous kings in their own right. Wherever a Singh plants their foot is a Takht, so stop being sheep. Start being in Chardi Kala and conduct those actions that embed a psychology that raises a generation of victors, not victims.
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