A Hindu Perspective by Balliram Chadee. M.Hin.

www.thehanumanmission.com. bally@thehanumanmission.com or Bally 416-992-2487.

This is the 29th in a series of articles by Dr. Balliram Chadee and Hotshots Newspaper to bring a Hindu Perspective to educate our community. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Divali or Deepaavali ….. The True Significance as seen through on our Traditions. Divali or Deepaavali ; as it is otherwise referred to, is the Festival of Lights and is celebrated with extreme pomp, vigor and devotional repentance by millions of Hindus, annually on the Amavasya night; being the fifteenth night of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Kaartik, corresponding to the October / November timeframe of the Hindu calendar. Hindus around the world, based on their own geographic areas of ancestry, may celebrate Divali with some uniqueness and in special ways according to the traditions to which they were exposed in their originating countries. Divali tradionally has been celebrated as the main day of worship to Mother Lakshmee (bestower of wealth) with extreme reverence and dedication, especially for spiritual wealth, physical wealth, health and family success. This occasion is special with many unique activities being performed, starting from early in the morning and culminating at 6:00pm with the lighting of the Deya (earthen vessel) where a cotton wick is placed in the deya, filled with oil or ghee (clarified butter) and lighted at its end. Most people in the Caribbean Region, tradionally lighted five, seven or nine deyas, as a personal commitment and obligation every Divali night, which stayed lit inside their puja room or house. Most spiritualists or people who “Jhaaray ” (perform spiritual healing), use this unique night to re-energize the Shakti or power of their sacred mantras used during the year, to help others with illness etc.

Divali comes after the period of Nav Raatri and before the celebration of Kaartik Snaan (festival where puja is conducted by the sea). There are two main views why Divali is celebrated. The first view is the festive aspect honoring the return of Lord Rama to the holy city of Ayodhya , after the completion of his fourteen years of exile in the forest, an activity he had to fulfill as a request by his father, King Dashratha, as a result of a promise made. It is believed that as he was returning home, the news reached the citizens in the holy city who were so excited and relieved to know of his long awaited return, that many lit a deya forming a pathway of light to fill the darkness felt during his absence from the palace and fostering a bright, lighted future for the holy city. The second view is held that during the churning of the milky ocean (same episode as Lord Shiva consuming the halahal poison), Mother Lakshmee appeared from the ocean in the middle of the pink Lotus flower, holding a lighted deya in her hand and brought light to the world. It has since been accepted that through this divine intervention, she brought light to remove darkness, good to remove evil and granted long life and immortality to avoid death . This aspect of the tradition has also been preserved till today.

However, irregardless of the spiritual or religious belief(s) held, Divali to Hindus is a time to inculcate the philosophy, virtues and values of ethics, morality, integrity and sincerity in our minds, hearts and souls. It is a time in our lives annually where we are given the opportunity to review the past and reflect on the future. Though times have changed and we see more “festive” style celebrations today, the fundamental success of Divali is in how you have submitted yourself to the lotus like feet of Lakshmee Maa, not in how many deyas you have lighted, how much food you prepared and how many friends you had over for dinner. While these are all very important in the celebration aspect of the occasion, we must stop for a moment and truly reflect on the real deep significance Divali brought to us as Hindus, at least those of us from the Caribbean . Remember the days your non-hindu friends honored your religious days of fasting leading up to Divali? Remember when they also fasted along with you to help you truly celebrate the special occasion and even lighted deyas with you at 6:00pm? Remember when they reminded you to be good, do good and see good? What happen to those days? When we as Hindus are refusing to fast, to honor one of our most sacred and powerful celebrations, how do we expect to get respect from others? Let us reflect once again why we celebrated Divali, remind ourselves it is time of cleansing, purity, review and devotion. It is also a time to express our gratitude for previous successes received, to pray for all without selfish motives. Most importantly it is a time to thank god for being safe, protected and healthy. Let us this Divali (Nov 9 th ) ask God for Good over Evil, Light over Darkness and Immortality over Death . Let us pray for Canada to be a safer and more peaceful place for all Canadians. Let us all as Hindus make a pledge to do one thing to enhance our lives with a change in our conduct or attitude, so each of us can aspire to become a better person. The virtues of ethics, sincerity, moral conduct and honesty would be some good attributes where we can start. Let us all as leaders also inculcate these fundamental doctrines of Hinduism. A Hindu is seen by the life you live, the values you emulate, the virtues you demonstrate and the service to society. Service to mankind is service to God . Let us seize this golden opportunity this Divali to impose on ourselves some characteristics of becoming a better person to ourselves, our family, our religion, our society and our Country. It is said that Strength lies in Unity .

Happy Divali from The Hanuman Mission of Ajax and Hotshots Magazine. May Lakshmee Maa shower her choicest blessings on each of you for health, strength and prosperity. I thank you all for your suggestions, compliments and feedback, it is how we can collectively grow and become better. I would especially like to thank Roy Rampersad and his staff for the privilege and opportunity to share a Hindu Perspective every two weeks with you. I pray that Lakshmee Mata shower her choicest blessings on them for continued success and may they always be blessed with prosperity to continue this wonderful path of spiritual enlightenment. Divali Greetings to All. May all your wishes be granted.