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Diwali Celebrated
at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chino Hills, California
Los Angeles, Oct. 20, 2009
Dilip Butani
People of all ages eagerly look forward to the festival of lights
known as Diwali. Diwali is the mostly widely celebrated Hindu festival
and signifying the victory of good over evil and marks the beginning
of the Hindu New Year. People clean their homes and illuminate them
with colorful lights and divas. New clothes are worn, traditional
Indian sweets are shared and good wishes to family and friends are
sent.
The festivties leading up to Diwali included various rites and
rituals beginning with Dhan Teras, in which ones wealth is purified
and offered to God. It is followed by Kali Choudas during which
Hanuman puja is performed to ward off evil. On Saturday October
17, devotees participated in chopda pujan, a special prayer ritual
during which account books are purified and prayers are said for
a prosperous New Year.
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BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, CA was buzzing with
joy and excitement on Sunday October 18, 2009 as devotees congregated
to celebrate Diwali. As visitors entered the brightly glowing mandir,
they were greeted with an elaborate rangoli, a beautiful floor design
made with colored rice and powder. Explaining the spiritual significance
of Diwali, Pujya Sarvadarshan Swami said, “Just as everyone
experience joy today, every day would be Diwali, if we rid ourselves
of the ignorance that we are this body and if we believe ourselves
to be Atma. Diwali is a festival to be aware of the inner light
of God, and once we understand this, we will experience joy in every
moment of our lives.”
This past Sunday marked the culmination of weeks of planning and
preparation, setting the stage for the most significant ritual of
the Diwali events, ‘Annakut’. Annakut, which literally
means ‘a mountain of food’, is traditionally offered
to God to celebrate the beginning of the Hindu New Year. "The
preparation begins at 5.00am in the morning for us," explained
Krupali Patel of the BAPS youth wing. "The vegetarian food
is traditionally arranged in tiers or steps in front of the Murtis
of God. The sweets are placed nearest. As the tiers descend, other
foods such as vegetables, pulses and fried savories are arranged.
A mound of cooked rice, symbolic of Mt. Govardhan, is placed in
the center. Today over 1500 food items have been offered to God,”
said Chandrika Patel, a BAPS volunteer.
Devotees arrived continuously from early morning dressed in new
shervanis and colorful sarees to behold the beautifully adorned
deities in the Mandir. The atmosphere was filled with festivity
and divinity as devotees greeted each other. The young touched the
feet of the elders and sadhus, receiving their blessings. The first
aarti (Hindu ritual) of the New Year was performed at 7:00 am followed
by prayers for world peace and well-being.
“Diwali is my favorite festival because of the excitement
that fills the air when the festival nears. But having recently
migrated to US, I did not know what to expect.” said Heena
Prajapati “But after coming to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir, Chino Hills, I felt like I was in India. I experienced Indian
culture while getting a taste of fine Indian cuisine. Every person
I met had an expression of warmth and happiness on their face. I
truly felt at home.” Many brought their American friends to
the celebration. Robin Darie from La Habra said, “I thought
it was a great cultural experience for the whole family. It was
a great way to educate the community about Hinduism. I learned in
a presentation here about the impact of a vegetarian diet on the
environment. I am really astonished.”
“Diwali is that time of the year when family, friends and
relatives get together and strengthen their bonds through various
festivities. Being away from India should not cause a lapse in our
traditions”, said Ravi Patel “Preparations for the festivities
begin months in advance. Devotees, young and old, sacrifice their
time to help in creating decorations, food preparation, children’s
Diwali celebration arrangements, as well as decorating the stage
for the most significant ritual of Diwali, the Annakut,” concluded,
Ravi Patel.
Diwali is also a time when children look forward to the joy it
brings. On Sunday October 18, 2009 beginning at 9:00 AM the Children’s
Diwali Celebration took place, which included a carnival and exhibition
exhibiting the various occasions that lead up to Diwali such as
Bhai-Bhij and Dhanteras. The celebration was as much fun as it was
educational. The atmosphere was filled with joy and celebration.
The children learned the history and origins of this festival, played
a variety of exciting games, and were given an assortment of gifts
and goodies.
This year His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj celebrated
Diwali and Annakut in Gondal, Gujarat, India. He blessed the devotees
on the New Year day. In his blessings he said, “Everyone’s
devotion could be seen today. If we develop Dharma and Bhakti in
our hearts, God becomes pleased, and thus He graces us with His
blessings.”
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide socio-spiritual
organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social
Council of the United Nations, is dedicated to community service,
peace and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to
care for the world by caring for societies, families and individuals.
Through a number of social and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors
to produce better citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for
their roots - their rich Hindu culture. Its 3,300 international
centers support these activities of character-building. Under the
guidance and leadership of His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj,
BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and
spiritually pure, and free of addictions.
His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual
successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, has inspired millions of people
across the world to lead a God-centered, morally pure life. As the
present leader of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj travels from village
to village, continent to continent, emphasizing the importance of
family harmony, community service and spiritual progress. He embodies
the essence of Hindu life. His compassion for humanity, universal
wisdom and striking simplicity have touched many world religious
and national leaders.
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