On Friday the residents of Avenida enjoyed the Diwali celebration at the invitation of Ravi, Gope and Rani. I think everyone was grateful for the joy, warmth and good food we experienced. They explained what the festival is about, how it is celebrated and the traditions that accompany it. I grabbed their notes so I could write this and help us remember the triumph of light over darkness. I am also in favor of holidays that last for several days.
Ravi wrote that Diwali is the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. It begins on the 12th day of the waning moon and goes on until the second day of the waxing moon. So we are still celebrating today and for several more days.
According to Rani's notes on the first day people buy gold, silver, jewelry, clothing and utensils. The second day homes are cleaned and designs are created at doorways with colored powder or sand. Everything is lit up. The third day is the actual day of Diwali when people dress up and prayers are said with family and friends. Gifts are exchanged and there is a feast. The fourth day is the Hindu New Year. On the fifth day brothers bring gifts to their sisters and the sisters share a variety of food with their brothers.
I love that this festival goes on for several days that are so filled with good will towards each other. It is presenting a new clean slate. We can forget the wrongs of the past and begin again without the baggage of the resentments we might hold. Forgive and forget. New beginnings.
Gope shared that Diwali is based on a story and teachings. The King of Ayodhya had three wives and four sons. The King with his army often defended Ayodhya. His second wife had saved his life in one of the wars. In gratitude he promised to fulfill any request she had. She asked to wait for another time.
As the king aged he named his first born son, Prince Ram, as his successor. The second wife cited his promise to her and requested her son be the successor. She also wanted Prince Ram to be exiled for fourteen years so there would be no trouble. The king was heartbroken but he believed that even if your life ends, your word does not. He was a man of honor. Ram, Sita, his wife, and his younger brother Laxman left the kingdom. Sadly, the king could not tolerate separation from his son and he soon died. The second son did not accept the throne but ruled in Prince Ram's honor until he would return and become the rightful king. In the meantime, Prince Ram's wife was Sita. She was the incarnation of Laxmi who is the Goddess of wealth.
After the fourteen difficult years Ram, Sita and Laxman planned to return to their home. The word spread in Ayodhya. The citizens prepared for their arrival by cleaning and preparing their path with lights and fireworks. They celebrated and prepared feasts. It was the very first joyous Diwali.
Diwali celebrations have been attended in Hindu temples in Great Britain by King Charles. George W. Bush recognized Diwali in 2003. Barack Obama personally attended Diwali in 2009. Indian forces approach their Pakistan counterforces bearing gifts of Indian confectionaries. The Pakistani forces return the favor. Now this wonderful holiday has come to Avenida. I hope we all remember not only what a lovely time we had but also what the holiday means. It can do nothing but good for all of us.
Thank you for your hospitality and thank you for your wisdom, Ravi, Rani and Gope.
Thank you for your report, Barbara. I must add that the two epics The Ramayana and The Mahabharata continue to provide inspiration to writers. poets, dancers, dramatists, etc. to this day. Only last week, one of the members of the Naperville Writers Group wrote a poem about her experience of being rushed to the hospital with a kidney stone and wove it in with a reference to a dream of Ravana, the demon-king in the Ramayana, that Gope summarized for us.
ReplyDelete