Festival of light: Hindu community to celebrate Diwali today

Special prayers to be offered inside homes and in temples.

LAHORE:

Diwali – a festival of light observed annually on the 14th day of the Hindu calendar month of Asvina – will be celebrated on Thursday (today), with Hindus offering special prayers at their homes and in temples.

Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning row of lights signifying the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. “Diwali’s message is love, peace and brotherhood,” said Dr Munawar Chand, a local Hindu scholar in charge of the Krishna Mandir –on Ravi Road.



“This is a day of victory and celebration, not only for Hindus but also for all those who believe in peace, brotherhood and humanity,” said Dr Chand, who is organising a colourful ceremony in collaboration with the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) at the temple.

Dr Chand said the festival was a celebration of the victorious homecoming of Lord Rama, the protagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana, king of Ayodhya. “When Lord Rama and his wife, Sita, returned to rule their kingdom after he had defeated the demon Ravana of Lanka, people lit their way with small clay lamps,” he said.

“Celebrations of Diwali, as one of the most important Hindu festivals, vary greatly. Although many follow the Rama tradition, some honour the marriage of goddess Lakshmi and god Vishnu. Others remember it as the triumph of Lord Krishna,” he said.

During Diwali, people light small oil lamps and line them in rows at homes along with some colourful candles. The deities are worshipped at homes and temples. Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, is the main deity honoured on the day.

Many families draw a colourful rangoli – a decorative pattern using rice flour – in front of their doors and in front of temples. Family and friends exchange visits to share feasts, as well as treats and sweets. At evening, children play on rooftops with sparklers and other fireworks.

Besides Hindus, some Muslims, Christians and Sikhs, will participate in the function at Krishna Mandir. “There is a need to spread a very clear message of love and brotherhood on Diwali,” Dr Chand said, adding, the festival epitomised light that had chased away shadows.

“Diwali must be celebrated for its spiritual aspect besides its cultural values,” said Amarnath Randhawa, a Hindu activist who heads Hindu Sudhar Sabha – a community development organisation.

“Diwali is a time of celebration and of renewal of goodwill and faith,” he said. “On this day, we can increase our consciousness of the ways in which light can triumph over darkness and good over evil,” he said.

“As we light lamps and pray on Diwali, we need to remember that there are many who are less fortunate and deprived. We will have to work together to formulate ways of helping to respond to the grinding poverty and desperation,” said Professor Ashok Kumar, a teacher of Hindi and Sindhi languages at the University of the Punjab.

Amarnath demanded that the government declare a public holiday on Diwali to make Hindus feel that they were an important part of the society. “Like Ramazan packages, the federal and the provincial governments should announce a special aid package for Hindus on Diwali. This underprivileged community needs special attention and care of the state,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2014.