From Kenya to Canada, Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains welcome Diwali, the festival of lights, with family gatherings, new clothes and happy hearts.
The traditions and symbolic meanings of Diwali are as varied by region as Indian culture itself. Just as India finds strength in its diversity, Diwali has morphed to encompass an array of cultural beliefs.
The festival is a time to celebrate the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and the triumph of good over evil. Those meanings lie at the heart of Diwali and help to unite the many myths associated with it in a common cause for celebration.
Diwali is the diminutive of the Sanskrit Deepavali, meaning “row of lights.” Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs create a joyous atmosphere for the season by lining balconies and rooftops with small oil-lamps made of clay.
North Indians consider Diwali the beginning of the New Year, while South Indians rely on a different calendar to mark the year’s end. The Roman calendar dates of the Diwali festival are different each year, as it’s determined by a Hindu lunar calendar.
As Indians have immigrated far and wide, the Diwali festival has followed them. Family traditions in some cases been adapted to fit new lifestyles, but the spirit of goodwill, charity and hopefulness of Deepavali remain.
The majority of Indians are Hindus, who believe Diwali marks the return of the God Rama to his kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. Each year devotees light his way home with lanterns and lamps. For Jains, one of several religious minorities, lamp-lighting commemorates the death of Lord Mahavir, the founder of Jainism, and his attainment of moksha-complete knowledge and eternal bliss. Sikhs celebrate the release of their sixth guru, Hargobind Singh, from prison in 1619, as well as the laying of the foundation stone in 1577 of their holiest place, the Golden Temple at Amristar.
The display of diyas, the ubiquitous oil lamps, is a common shared custom among all the diverging traditions of Diwali. But diyas can be difficult to buy outside of India. Even where they are available, they can pose a fire risk, says Dr. Sukanya Reddy, president of the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont, Illinois.” In the Temple we have diyas everywhere, but we have to use electrical lamps and Christmas –type lights due to the fire code.” She says. “We also have plenty of food and prayers. Everyone comes in their new clothes and jewelry for the occasion.”
For many, Lalshmi Puja is the most important religious service of Diwali. Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity, is believed to walk the earth on this night. People are invited into homes and businesses first by cleaning them thoroughly, and then lighting lamps and drawing small footprints and lotuses in coloured powder called rangoli to symbolize entry. It is considered auspicious to buy new cooking utensils and clothes on the day before Lakshmi Puja.
For Jains like Prachi Kshirsagar, who emigrated from India in the early 1980s. she says in India she visited all of her family and helped to make a number of snacks and sweets to offer guests and give as gifts.
“Cooking in India is a big part of this, and everyone cooked so much,” Kshirsagar says.” Here, very few people still do it. I make a couple of things every year.”
Aghi’s only extended relatives who have emigrated from India live in Toronto. Meena Ahuja, Aghi’s aunt, says with the large Indian population in Toronto and the number of temples there, she barely notices the differences between celebrating in Canada and her native India.
“All of the temples and homes are brightly lit with strings of lights, diyas and candles,” Ahuja says. “Everybody goes to the temple and there are lots of firecrackers and sweets.”
While people take part in a range of Diwali practices, Reddy says there are only a few steadfast things to keep in mind.
“It’s a celebration to gather with everyone, to feast and to pray,” she says. “Most importantly-be joyful.”
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