LAC LA BICHE - Each year, people in India and around the world gather to observe Diwali, the ancient Hindu festival of lights.
On Nov. 2, a large group of Lac La Biche County residents with ties to the Indian culture – and others who were interested in learning more – got together to celebrate this vibrant festival with an event that included traditional Indian foods such as samosas, chicken curry, rice and naan bread, along with plenty of colourful lights and socializing.
The Diwali celebration took place at the Fat Unicorn Tap and Grill in Lac La Biche.
John Mondal, the restaurant’s manager, helped organize the special celebration. Of Indian heritage himself, the businessman and current municipal councillor said the Diwali festival tends to fall between October and November. However, the exact date in which the religious observance will take place varies each year as the Hindu calendar is based on the moon.
Diwali, he continued, is significant as it is considered an auspicious time to start new ventures.
“It's also a time for Hindus to reflect on their lives and get rid of harmful behaviours,” he told Lakeland This Week.
According to Mondal, Diwali is celebrated by lighting oil lamps, candles, and lanterns in homes, temples, and work spaces. The lamps are called diyas, and are meant to symbolize the inner light that protects people from spiritual darkness.
“The word Diwali translates to "row of lights" in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India,” he said, explaining that the term is derived from the Sanskrit word “dīpa,” which means ‘lamp, light, lantern, candle,’ and “āvali,” which means “in a continuous line.”
Diwali is celebrated over five days, with the third day being the main one of the festival. As Mondal explains, on the third day of Diwali, families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to the Goddess of wealth.
The festival includes the exchanging of gifts, wearing new clothes, feasting, feeding the poor and launching of fireworks in celebration.
While Diwali is officially a Hindu festival, it also has significance within the Jain, Sikh, and even Buddhist religions.
Mondal says that within Hinduism, Diwali celebrates the return of Prince Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshman from exile after defeating the demon king Ravana.
For adherents to Jainism, Diwali commemorates the day when Lord Mahavira, the last Jain Tirthankara, attained nirvana, or enlightenment. The tradition of lighting lamps on Diwali is said to have begun on this day in 527 BCE.
Through Diwali, Sikhs celebrate the victory of Guru Hargobind over Emperor Jahangir, who had imprisoned him and 52 other princes, while some Buddhists celebrate Diwali as the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the third century BCE.
“In other cultures, Diwali coincides with harvest and new year celebrations,” Mondal said. “In a multicultural and diverse country like India, everyone has their own way of celebrating this festival and is celebrated by everyone in the country, I would say it’s a national festival of India.”
People who came for the Diwali event were greeted by Sneha Shetty, who applied dots of red powder called Tilak to their foreheads. Tilak, an element of the Hindu religion, is done to signify vanity, love, and friendship.
“Diwali as a festival basically represents the triumph of good over evil,” Shetty said, enjoying the celebrations offered to residents who now call the Lac La Biche community their home. “Light is hope, so it brings hope.”