This year, I chose to boycott the Diwali celebration held at the White House. It was a decision rooted in the principles I hold close, principles we’ve shared across the country during the Revolutionary Love Tour. For the past two months, we traveled to 45 cities, gathering thousands of people to explore how love can be a force for courage and collective action.
Each night of our tour, we shared the Sikh story of Diwali — a story of courage and radical solidarity. In 17th century South Asia, an emperor imprisoned our teacher, our Guru. But our people marched to his prison, calling for his release in powerful processions of music and dissent. The emperor relented but insisted on releasing only those who could grasp the end of the Guru’s cloak. The Guru, in an act of true liberation, emerged with a cloak adorned with 52 tassels, each held by one of the imprisoned kings. He led all 52 out of the prison, into freedom. This day is known as Bandi Chhor Divas, the Day of Liberation, and it reminds us that a sage warrior leaves no one behind.
As we journeyed through the election season, we shared this story to awaken people to the radical action needed to journey from darkness into light. The key lesson: leave no one outside our circle of care.
This year, standing in the White House for Diwali felt impossible to me. Our government has the power to prevent the ongoing carnage against the Palestinian people and to champion a future of co-existence and liberation for all — Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israelis, and Palestinians alike. Yet, it has refused to secure a ceasefire and continues to supply weapons that devastate entire families. In this story, the White House resembles the emperor, standing in the way of true freedom and justice. It’s up to all of us to call for a new way, to march to its gates, and to lift our voices for a vision that includes everyone.
Let’s show the White House what Diwali truly means — the courage required to bring forth the light. Call, text, tag the @whitehouse, and let’s embody the spirit of Bandi Chhor Divas, standing for justice for all.
Start here with our introduction to the compass. We teach ten core practices of revolutionary love, backed by research and infused with ancestral wisdom. Imagine these practices as points on a compass. Point the compass toward whomever you want to practice loving— another, an opponent, or yourself. Decide what practice you need. You can use this compass as a tool in all arenas in your life.