After two quiet years, Diwali illuminating Houston’s skyline
Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair.
“The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness,” said Thara Narasimhan, president of Hindus of Greater Houston.
Diwali, which falls on Oct. 24 this year, is feted by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. Each faith has its own narrative behind the celebration. Even within Hinduism, there are several versions.
“The different stories are intertwined at different time periods,” Narasimhan said. “Historically, Diwali can be traced back to ancient India. It most likely began as an important harvest festival.”
Diwali — derived from the Sanskrit word “dipavali,” which translates to “row of lights” — centers on the story of Lord Rama defeating the demon Ravana. After the victory, Rama and his wife, Sita, finally return to their kingdom, Ayodhya.
“He was returning after 14 years,” Chirag Bhatt, spokesman for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Houston. “The whole city was lit with lamps, every house and street.”
Bhatt added that there was a new moon the night Lord Rama came home. “There was not a light in the sky,” he said. “The people wanted to be sure the celebration would light up the sky.”
People continue to decorate their homes and light diyas, traditional clay lamps, for Diwali and to welcome Rama into their hearts, Bhatt said.
In other parts of India, Diwali centers on Rama’s return after an exile imposed by his evil stepmother or the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura. Some celebrate Lord Vishnu’s banishment of King Bali. Most also honor Lakshmi, or Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune, during Diwali.
Katy resident Nikhil Jain said Diwali has a different significance for his religion, Jainism. The day honors Lord Mahavir’s reaching nirvana.
Jain plans to visit the Jain Center and offer prayers to the idol of Lord Mahavir.
“There is group chanting,” he said. “We light diyas all across the house to symbolize that there will be no darkness anywhere. We also leave the main house door open for some time to symbolize letting Goddess Laxmi come inside our homes.”
In the Sikh tradition, Diwali celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, explained Hardeep Singh, president of the Sikh Center of Gulf Coast Area.
“It’s celebrating that the Guru is back,” she said.
Guru Hargobind only agreed to freedom on one condition — if it were also granted to the other innocent 52 princes imprisoned with him. That spirit of freedom will be on the minds of the Sikh community as they light diyas for Diwali, Singh said.
The gurdwara, or Sikh place of worship, is where the celebration will occur, with three days of recitations of the sacred scripture, titled Guru Granth Sahib.
Diwali celebrations throughout Houston
Diwali celebrations have already begun illuminating the Houston skyline.
The Shri Sita Ram Foundation held a celebration on Oct. 15 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, decorating the baseball stadium with millions
of lights so it would be visible for miles.
The festival culminated with the burning of effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath, all key figures to the Diwali stories.
“The evil is consumed by fire, and the euphoria of the victory of goodness is celebrated through bursting of firecrackers,” said Arun Verma, founder and president of the Foundation.
Disha USA, a nonprofit that empowers Hindus through civic engagement, hosted its Grand Diwali Dinner on Oct. 14, complete with lamp-lighting.
Festivities continue around the city.
At ISKCON Houston, a Candlelight Aarti begins at
7:30 p.m. on, Oct. 24 at its campus located at 1320 W. 34th in Garden Oaks.
Bhatt said the display at ISKCON should not be missed. “The entire altar is covered in candles,” he said. In the past, he has counted more than 1,000.
“It’s quite a sight,” Bhatt said. “The entire atmosphere is just so divine. People who come to our temple are totally mesmerized.”
The Hanuman Puja, a time of reflection on the year ahead, is slated for 11:40 a.m. on Oct. 23. The festivities continue at 4 p.m. with the Diwali
Samaiyo, a general assembly with spiritual discourse and bhajans, or devotional music, and at 7 p.m. with Sandhya Arti, an evening celebration of the deities.
At 5 p.m. on Oct. 24, the mandir hosts the Chopda Pujan, a special ritual to ensure prosperity for the new year. Individuals bring their accounting books — or flash drives and USBs — to the temple to be blessed by the goddess Laskshmi.
Masala Radio, 98.7 FM, presents the 10th annual Houston Diwali Mela Festival of Lights from 6 to 11 p.m. on Nov. 5 at West Oaks Mall, 1000 Texas 6 in Alief.
With rising inflation, making the tickets affordable was a priority for the station. Sponsors united to make the event free of charge.
“There will be a grand high stage of entertainment from local Bollywood singers and dance schools, and a glamorous fashion show with gyrating lights, sound and special effects,” said CEO Sandhya Thakkar.
There will be rides for all ages, a Diwali bazaar, dancing, DJs, live bands and fireworks.
“Prayers for world peace will be invoked during the diya lighting and Maha Aarti,” Thakkar said. “The atmosphere will be light and carefree, celebrating the historical
return of Ram, Sita and Lakshman home from banishment into Ayodhya to the people that loved them.”
She continued, “In modern times it is a celebration of all that is good, and the realization that evil can only be conquered when a people collectively open up their hearts and minds in forgiveness and love.”
Celebrations continue for the New Year
The day after Diwali marks the Hindu new year, also called Govardhan Puja, Annakut or Annakoot. The holiday will be celebrated at ISKCON at 6 p.m. on Oct. 25 and at BAPS starting at 7:30 a.m. Both will have the traditional “mountain of food” — a thousand vegetarian dishes offered for the occasion.
Bhatt, with ISKCON, explained that the festival commemorates when Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill, a sacred Hindu site, to protect the villagers of Vrindavan from torrential rains.
“Lord Krishna protected all of his devotees and the residents of the city,” he said.
For Missouri City resident Mansi Inamdar, the delicious dishes are a highlight. “It’s a bunch of yummy food to see and hopefully get your hands on to enjoy,” she said.
Inamdar is eager to see festivities return to the temple, after COVID restricted celebrations in recent years.
“You’re able to get back into the routine of praying together,” she said. “Being able to go back with everyone, there’s just that much more excitement in the air. I’m super excited to be back at it with everyone.”
Returning to the mandir is especially meaningful for Pearland resident Ushma Prajapati.
“The fireworks are back,” she said. “For the past couple of years, we haven’t had them. This year, we’re a little more open.”
Prajapati also looks forward to spending time with her family.
“For me, it’s a time of pause and reflection,” she said.
“How do we take that positivity forward as a guiding light into the year ahead?”