As Diwali approaches, railway stations grow crowded, markets begin to sparkle and families prepare to celebrate together. People travel hundreds of kilometres to spend this time with their loved ones. But not everyone gets the chance to return home. In distant cities, countless people spend Diwali in small rented rooms, looking at family photographs on their mobile phones. Some work through long shifts, others cannot afford the journey, and many cannot take leave from work. Outside, the streets shine with festive lights. Inside, silence reminds them of everything they are missing.

 

They miss home-cooked meals and the comfort of sitting among people who are their own. Sometimes, the greatest luxury is not money or expensive gifts, but simply being home. For others, returning home is impossible for a more painful reason: Someone they love is no longer there. Festivals can make grief feel heavier. An empty chair at the dining table, a familiar tradition left unfinished or a voice that can no longer be heard can turn a day of celebration into a moment of loneliness. While the world welcomes happiness, some people quietly learn to live with loss. We often admire bright lights of Diwali but overlook the struggles hidden behind closed doors. A smiling face in a photograph does not always reveal the whole story. Someone celebrating with friends may secretly wish to share one more meal with their family or hear a simple question: “When are you coming home?” Perhaps that is what makes a home special. It is not necessarily a large house or a comfortable income.

 

It is a place where silence is understood, where a meal is shared without calculating its cost and where one’s presence matters more than one’s possessions. Life does not give everyone the same choices. Some leave home to build a better future; others leave because circumstances demand it. They promise to return next time, but work, expenses and responsibilities keep postponing that journey. This Diwali, we can make a difference through small acts of kindness. Call a friend living away from home. Check on a colleague working through the festival. Invite someone who would otherwise celebrate alone. These gestures cannot solve every problem, but they can remind someone that they are not forgotten. For some, the most precious Diwali gift is not new clothes, a smartphone or a box of sweets, it is a train ticket home, a meal with family, or a familiar voice asking when they will return. This Diwali, let us remember that the festival’s true brightness lies not only in the lamps we light but also in the compassion we share. We may not be able to bring everyone home, but we can help ensure that no one around us feels entirely forgotten.