CITY HINDUS PREPARE FOR FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
Hindus across Calgary are preparing to celebrate Diwali, the annual festival of light.
It is a time for celebration and for welcoming the power of good over evil, and each quadrant of the city is putting on various events to mark the occasion.
The night of Diwali takes place Oct. 29. However, the annual festival extends over several days — a time in which old friendships are honoured and long-standing rivalries put aside.
The festival is associated closely with Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, which is why lights are lit outside homes to guide her path indoors so she will reward the hosts.
“Overall, this is a very happy time,” said Raksh Joshi, secretary of the board of trustees of the Hindu Society of Calgary.
“Before Diwali there are a few days where people clean their houses as to welcome that day, a type of fall cleaning,” he said. “They bring new utensils and wear new clothes and exchange sweets with family, community members and friends. The message is, ‘ You are happy and I am happy.’”
Diwali is also a time of renewal and marks the start of a new financial year for many Hindu businesses.
“May we ask that God bring happiness and wealth in the next coming year and if you are an enemy of anyone you go to their house as well and tell them, ‘Let’s forget whatever happened in the past, let’s begin a new friendship,’” Joshi said.
Although Diwali originated in India as a Hindu festival, it’s a celebration marked by people of other faiths including Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists as well.
Joshi said because the number of Hindus in the city has grown substantially over the last half century, it is no longer possible for everyone to get together at one location for a general celebration. Instead, smaller events are being held throughout Calgary.
Some of the main celebrations of this year’s festival of light include:
A Diwali-inspired gala in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Saturday at the downtown Metropolitan Centre. It will include a performance of South Asian music by singer Raghav.
A dinner dance to celebrate the festival at the Temple Community Hall Saturday at 167 Templegreen Rd. N.E.
Leading Indian dance groups will feature at a Diwali celebration Monday night at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre. Organizers will stage a fashion show and let guests try various cultural activities such as sari- and turban-tying.
The Rajasthan Association of North America is holding an evening of dance and Bollywood music expected to draw more than 500 people to the Genesis Centre, 7555 Falconridge Blvd. N.E., on Nov. 5.
The Indian Cultural Association expects more than 3,000 people to gather at the Radisson Hotel at 6620 36 St. N.E. on Nov. 5 for a night of dance and authentic cuisine.
Also on Nov. 5, the Hindu Society of Calgary will host a traditional dinner and cultural show at the society headquarters at 2225 24 Ave. N.E.