Lights And Clay Lamps Around The World Get Ready For Diwali This Weekend |
From Indonesia to the Southern Caribbean,
Indians around the world are finishing off their garlands and
decorations to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. In
addition to being one of the holiest dates on the Hindu calendar, the
date is also commemorated by Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains—and has grown
into one of the most representative community celebrations for the
Indian diaspora worldwide.
The Triumph Of Good Versus Evil
As
in most of Hindu lore, the story behind Diwali is a thrilling tale that
combines battle, ideals, wit, and the sacred symbolism attached to the
passage of time. For Hindus, Diwali celebrates the triumph of the god
Rama over the demon king Ravana, who had kidnapped Rama's wife Sita, and
taken her to the island of Lanka.
The
festival also coincides with the time of year devoted to both Kali, the
goddess of power, and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In India, this is
taken as a good way to multiply the celebrations, since most stores
will make their biggest yearly sales events. It is also considered an
auspicious time for business or to ask the blessings of the gods. Which
is why Diwali is often preceded by weeks of fasting and additional
prayers by devout Hindus.
However, the most easily recognizable symbol of Diwali
are the small clay pots used to light candles or burn aromatic oils.
Most Diwali decorations are centered around entire rows of these little
lights, which are said to illuminate the way for Rama to return safely
from Lanka.
Other
Diwali traditions include large fireworks displays, the exchange of
homemade sweets or marigold garlands, and elaborate prayer rituals known
as puja.
For
Sikhs, Diwali commemorates the date in which one of their early gurus
broke out of prison, and for Jains, the date on which one if its
founders first achieved nirvana.
A Celebration of All Things India
For
the millions of Indians and people of Indian descent who now live
across the world, Diwali has grown into a way to celebrate their
heritage as well. Hindu temples in England
often center many of their community engagement events around Diwali,
and in Leicester, even the city council is involved in their annual
switch on.
In
Australia, the Hindu council organizes large scale celebrations in both
Melbourne and Sidney. Diwali-themed fanfare and sales are easy to spot
in Durban, Johannesburg, Dubai, and Bali. In Trinidad and Tobago, the
feast is even recognized as a bank holiday, while in Guyana, an annual
motorcade is set up for it.
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