Every year, millions of lamps light up the night sky for Diwali but where did this celebration truly begin? Long before it became about fireworks and online sales, Diwali was a harvest festival, a time when farmers finally defeated the monsoon, roads reopened, and life could be celebrated again. Lamps were lit not for beauty, but for purpose, to guide travellers, mark open shops, and bring light to the darkest new moon night.Over time, religion added its genius marketing. Rama’s return, Krishna’s victory, Mahavira’s nirvana, weaving divine meaning into a festival people were already celebrating. Then came the Mughals, who turned it into Jashn-e-Chiraghan, the Festival of Lamps, adding Chinese firecrackers and royal grandeur.Today, as we move away from smoke and back to light, Diwali is returning to its roots. A reminder of renewal, gratitude, and human endurance.:sparkles: This Future IQ episode reveals how a simple harvest ritual evolved into the world’s brightest festival and why its real light has always been human resilience.