Party Time

This time of year is festival time in India. I don't just mean one festival, it seems these days, there is always a holiday of some sort. Just this past week there were two special holidays. I've really tried, but I just haven't been able to keep them all straight. However, all the holiday typically revolve around one of the 330 million Hindu gods and involve sometype of worship to them. All of these holidays lead up to the largest Hindu holiday which is Diwali. The celebration will be next week, but people are already beginning to celebrate.

Diwali is a five day Hindu festival that occurs in late October each year. The word "diwali" means "rows of lighted lamps" or "array of lamps," and the celebration is often referred to as the "Festival of Lights" much in the same way the Jewish holiday of Hannukah is referred to as the "Festival of Lights." Diwali is by far the most glamorous and important festival celebrated in India today. (This was taken from Internet site).

Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil - and the glory of light. This festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile. Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, on his wife's insistence. Lord Rama returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, in which he put an end to the demon Ravana of Lanka, who was a great Pundit, highly learned but still evil dominated his mind. After this victory of Good over Evil, Rama returned to Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay lamps. So, it is an occasion in honor of Rama's victory over Ravana; of Truth's victory over Evil. Taken from http://www.diwalifestival.org/diwali-in-history.html

During Diwali, homes are thoroughly cleaned and windows are opened to welcome Laksmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, and candles and lamps are lit as a greeting to Laksmi. Gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared, and the celebration means as much to Hindus as Christmas does to Christians.

I had only been in country a few days before Diwali last year, but I definitely remember it. I did not spend Diwali with Indians (some friends and I watched Alias season 4 all day long), but it still left a lasting impression. Fireworks are huge during Diwali, so the entire week it sounded like we were living in a warzone all the time, especially at night. They've already begun this year also....:)

I am looking forward to experiencing Diwali with our Indian friends this year, and I'll try to take pictures and explain more about the holiday as I learn more about it myself. I do know it involves getting dressed up, visiting homes and eating alot of Indian sweets. I like the visiting homes part, but the whole Indian sweets thing - not so much. :)

There is just a festive spirit around here these days, which is sort of fun, although, it is still so hard to understand where they are coming from with their beliefs. However, I do find it interesting that they are celebrating victory of Truth over Evil. It just shows that all people from all over the world, deep-down, long for the Truth.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Jn. 8:32