Diwali: out of darkness, light

The Diwali is here. Diwali, or Deepavali ("row of lamps") in Sanskrit, is the Hindu festival of lights that will climax on November 5. Diwali is part of a complex of Hindu festivals that take place in close proximity to each other. While Diwali is becoming better known in America, it is still perhaps most commonly associated with a spoof of a Diwali party on the comedy series the Office. But I hope the day will come soon when all of us will join with Hindu-Americans in wishing each other a happy Diwali.

My first Diwali experience began on a train coming from Ghaziabad back to Varanasi. It was 1985 and I had just gone for the engagement ceremony for the eldest daughter of the family with whom I was living. As twilight began to fall, I remember looking out the window of the train and seeing the whole country-side illuminated--every window in every house had an oil lamp burning and lights were strung up along intersections and over shops.

The Hindu priest we were traveling with was going through withdrawals because he hadn't brought enough betel nut (paan) for the trip--and so to pass the time he told me the stories associated with the festivals of the Diwali season: how Krishna's wife Sathyabhama bested Naraka; how the lamps in the windows were meant to show the way home to Lord Rama and his beloved Sita as they returned from exile; how shopkeepers would place their account books before the image of Lakshmi for her blessings; how people would play dice as Shiva and Paravati did. I have to say that I didn't understand significance of everything I was being told--it all seemed so rich, so complicated, and, to me, so new.

The full force of Diwali impacted me when I got off the train in Varanasi. The rickshaw ride back home was harrowing: sky rockets were flying and fire crackers bursting. Many of these celebratory incendiary devices were well aimed at the wide-eyed foreign exchange student sitting with a Hindu priest; we made vain protests about being targeted, but laughed hard all the way. We reached home late in the evening, and hot tea and sweets were waiting. I put on a new silk kurta and embraced my Indian family and friends who had waited up to welcome us back.

Like Christmas in the United States, Diwali has become heavily commercialized in India. In one sense, one could see Diwali as a festival tailor-made to pick up the slack before the Christmas buying season. If that happens, it would be unfortunate.

From the perspective of comparative religions, Diwali is part of a number of festivals celebrated in many religions as winter approaches. It is a time to invoke blessings and bring light to the darkness. And it is not just Hindus who find that Diwali is a time when the extended ties of family and friendship are renewed. In delivering Diwali greetings to Hindus all over the world, the Vatican emphasized the mutual respect between Christians and Hindus. As I found during my first year in India, there are infinite ways to be involved in Diwali--though if you light firecrackers, I won't be held responsible.

So, if you see candles in your neighbors' windows on Friday, be sure to wish them a happy Diwali. Then, next year, consider placing candles in your windows as well. I know that's exactly what I'll be doing.

By Mathew N. Schmalz  |  November 2, 2010; 10:56 AM ET Save & Share:                 
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