December 15: Joy
Triangle Area Hindu Temples
Gunvant "GB" Bhakta
J
oyous Diwali is the greatest Hindu holiday of the year (excerpts taken from the article by Rabbi Marc Gelman in N&O Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019).
Diwali
festival falls on the 15
th
day of
Kartik,
which is the holiest Hindu month, the greatest holiday of the year begins. Hinduism, has a luni-solar calendar, which equalizes the lunar calendar with the solar calendar so that fall holidays always occur during the fall season. Diwali is a five-day holiday and like Christmas, it is marked by displays of colorful lights and bright holidays clothes and gift giving and sweets.
Everywhere in Hindu lands/homes lamps called
diyas
are lit, and like our Fourth of July it is celebrated with fireworks. Diwali does differ from Western religious holidays in that it is not a celebration of a historical event that has been spiritualized. Diwali is a celebration of good over evil, light over darkness, like Hinduism itself, is rooted more in a spiritual montage and the natural harvest celebration. This fits the outlook perfectly because its goal is release from the cycle of birth/death and reincarnation (
moksha
) rather than the return of the early Messiah or a new Davidic monarchy with an in-gathering of exiles.
Hinduism and Diwali are pure spiritual events. The rhythms of history do not enter. The message and hope of Diwali, the festival of light, as it is for New Year celebrations in the West, is for health and happiness and prosperity during the year ahead. People give gifts of sweets and gold, new clothes purchased and Lights and fireworks are everywhere. Diwali has remarkable similarities with festivals of major religions.
At a time of darkness (New Moon) light is celebrated. No matter how difficult the year has been, a holiday occurs that is full of light and joy and giving. The bonds of family are honored. The cycle of nature is revered and giving to others, especially to the needy, from our bounty is practiced. These same themes occur everywhere on our planet earth. These themes introduce the spiritual realm into our daily lives.
Diwali and season of holidays reminds us life is not about crushing work every single day but also about pausing to give thanks for our gifts and to give gifts to others, to look splendid, to eat delicious food and sweets and celebrate one’s family and friends. The religion of Hinduism may seem to be different than the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but Diwali’s light and joy is the one message we all share. So, this holiday season, festivals of light, let us shine and spread the
Light
, collectively under IHEAR (Interfaith Homelessness Education, Action, and Response), to the needy, our fellow citizens and bring hope, decency and respect in their lives.
