FESTIVAL CELEBRATES INDIAN HOLIDAYS.Byline: Daily News CHATSWORTH - Crowds have been lighter than normal this weekend at the Indian Cultural Center's celebration of two important Indian holidays - the Festival of Lights and the Durga Puja Durga Puja (Bengali: দুর্গাপূজা Durga Puja) is the biggest festival of Hindus in Bihar, West Bengal, East Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bengali Hindus all over the world. . In past years the celebration has drawn thousands of visitors to the Indian Cultural Center in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , but by midday Saturday, attendance seemed like it would amount to a fraction of the 5,000 who attended last year, an organizer said. ``I think people are scared,'' said event organizer Amy Ghosh, adding that the rumors of a terrorist bombing in California begun by the governor's warning a few days ago might be keeping people home. Still, the cultural center, which is hosting the three-day event three-day event a competition in the pleasure horse sport comprising usually one day each for dressage, cross country and show jumping. that ends with religious activities today, has worked just as hard to bring the festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. to life. The Festival of Lights is an important national holiday in India and involves the lighting of candles, the exchange of sweets and the lighting of firecrackers. This year's festivities are all the more exciting because of the newest addition to the Devonshire Street Hindu temple A Hindu temple (Sanskrit: mandira), is a house of worship for followers of Hinduism. They are usually specifically reserved for religious and spiritual activities. A Hindu temple can be a separate structure or a part of a building. - a six-foot-tall, 170-pound, 10-armed goddess who just barely made it to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. from India, Ghosh said. The sculpture of Durga, the goddess of energy, got stuck in the Calcutta airport after the Sept. 11 attacks shut down the air traffic in and out of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Ghosh said. People at the temple waited and waited, Ghosh said. But when the air traffic resumed, the deity finally arrived in one piece. ``We thought maybe they'd break it,'' Ghosh said. ``Nothing happened - it came intact. Customs didn't even open the lock.'' The event is particularly relevant to the times because of its significance. ``The whole idea of this celebration is the triumph of good over evil,'' Ghosh said. The three-day event began Friday and continued Saturday with religious ceremonies in the day and the carnival-style festival in the evening with booths and cultural activities, Indian folk dancing and classic Indian dances. The festival ends today with religious services. |
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