Good response to diya lighting

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to citizens to switch off electric lights at 9 pm on April 5 for nine minutes, and light candles/diyas or flash torchlight or mobile lights standing on their doorstep or balconies evoked a good response in Ludhiana city.

Though some were dismissive of the idea, doubting its need and rationale in this hour of crisis, a city-based Consultant, Psychiatrist Dr Anshul Mahajan, shared his psychological perspective on it. “Even if we do not want to get into stars, energy and vibrational science, it still made psychological sense. “Doing things together makes us feel supported (I am not alone here).”

Human beings are hardwired to connect. It was an indirect way of showing connection, said Dr Mahajan. The collective diya-lighting had the potential to create a placebo effect in the minds of believers and even change their biochemistry which actually could strengthen their immune system.

Joe Dispenza in his book “You are the Placebo” has demonstrated the latest research in neuroscience, biology, psychology, hypnosis to demystify the working of placebo effect.

Satinder, a retired teacher, said that she lighted candles to create a feeling of gratitude. The feeling of gratitude aids in our psychological wellbeing. Dr Mahajan, as an expert, said: “If we practised gratitude by heart during this diya time, we had done a favour to ourselves!”