HINDUS PREPARE FOR DIWALI FIVE-DAY FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS CELEBRATES RAMA'S RETURN.Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer CHATSWORTH - Preparations are under way by the Hindu Indian community for the joyous joy·ous adj. Feeling or causing joy; joyful. See Synonyms at glad1. joy  ous·ly adv. five-day festival of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, that occurs this year on Nov. 4. During Diwali, one of the oldest of Hindu festivals The following is a list of Hindu festivals. The religion of Hinduism has many festivals, including Diwali, Holi, and Durga Puja. They are celebrated in South Asia and many other parts of the world with great enthusiasm. , small lights known as diyas are illuminated inside and outside of homes and temples. The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali. Deepa means ``light'' and Avali means a ``row.'' ``One explanation about Diwali is that Lord Rama came back to his hometown of Ayodhya after being in exile for 14 years,'' said Dinesh Lakhanpal, chairman of the Indian Cultural Center in Chatsworth. ``Our God, Rama, had a victory over Ravana, a demon. ``After Rama's return, the people became happy and they danced in the streets and lit candles to celebrate his return. We light diyas to remember his victory and homecoming Homecoming Odyssey concerning Odysseus’s difficulties in getting home after war. [Gk. Myth.: Odyssey] You Can’t Go Home Again revisiting his home town, a writer is disillusioned by what he sees. [Am. Lit. .'' The festival occurs every year on the day of the new moon of the Hindu month of Kartik. Although traditions and customs vary from state to state in India, lighting oil lamp or candle diyas is the common denominator common denominator n. 1. Mathematics A quantity into which all the denominators of a set of fractions may be divided without a remainder. 2. A commonly shared theme or trait. of the holiday. Diwali and Krishna's birthday are considered the two most important Hindu holidays, said Lakhanpal. ``Diyas are lit by everybody. In India, they are lit in the streets which we cannot do here,'' Lakhanpal said. ``On Diwali we also worship and pray to the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi. ``A belief among us is that if we leave the lights on all night, the goddess will visit. The prayer we say is for good health and prosperity in the coming year.'' Poonam Gupta, a member of the committee organizing the Diwali Festival to be held at Pierce College In 2006 the Library won a national Excellence award. Academics Pierce College offers associate's degrees, mainly in the arts and sciences. There are also certificate programs in early childhood education, social services, dental hygienist, and others. on Nov. 2, creates a pathway of light with diyas in front of her home. Unlike the custom in India to place diyas in every room in a house, Gupta is more cautious with her indoor lights. ``People would stay up all night to make sure the diyas didn't start a fire or go out,'' said Gupta. ``They would be adding oil to the lamp. If the diya Diya may mean:
Gupta described Diwali as a combination of the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. and Christmas in India, where fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to displays are a big part of the holiday. ``The major thing is to visit friends and relatives and exchange sweets, nuts and dried fruits,'' Gupta said. ``Sweets are sold by the load full around Diwali. Some are made in beautiful shapes like apples or even peacocks.'' Diwali is also considered a new year for business people. Celebrating Diwali is an assurance that they will be prosperous in the new year. ``Diwali marks a change of season, away from the rainy season in India,'' said Lakhanpal, who looked forward to the sweets and the fireworks when he was a young boy in northern India. ``People clean their homes. They may paint their homes. They get rid of the old stuff. Women like to buy new clothes and jewelry jewelry, personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring. .'' Diwali is celebrated in Hindu temples A Hindu temple is called Mandir or Kovil or Devasthanam or Dega (Nepal Bhasa). It is usually dedicated to a primary deity, called the presiding deity, and other deities associated with the main deity. with the lighting of diyas, singing of religious songs, prayers, dancing and the exchange of sweets. Lakhanpal said the community is always welcome to attend festivals at Hindu temples. The Indian Cultural Center of Chatsworth will hold a Diwali Festival with religious and cultural dances from all over India performed by costumed dancers. The festival also will include food stalls, a health fair, fashion show and music. Lakhanpal said the festival attracted 10,000 to 12,000 last year. ``It's a chance for us to share with the community this festival. Our children learn about Christmas and Hanukkah in school,'' said Gupta, who has two children. ``But other people are not aware of Diwali and our holidays. No one seems to know about it ... yet. The festival will be a colorful display of what Indian culture has to offer.'' The third annual Diwali Festival will be held from noon to midnight Nov. 2 at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. A Diwali service will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Valley 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. , 21213 Devonshire St., Chatsworth. Call (818) 773-5880. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: - Dinesh Lakhanpal, center, with Arun Dwivedi and Malti Lakhanpal, at Valley Hindu Temple Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer |
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