Having been raised in a Jewish home, I was familiar with the festival of lights known as Hanukkah. Candles are kindled to celebrate the miracle of a vessel of oil meant to last only one day, but instead lasted eight days. In the Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist traditions, another reason to celebrate light is called Diwali and it occurs in the fall. The origin of this holiday is from Hindu scriptures that focus on good over evil and light over darkness.
Each of the five days has a theme to honor the Divine.
There are lovely greetings people offer each other, including “May this festival of lights fill your life with the light of luck and love. My best wishes to you! Happy Diwali!”
This year, our community of Doylestown in Bucks County, PA gathered in Burpee Park where tables were set with scattered flower petals, music wafted through the air, inviting attendees to dance. Delicious, sinus-clearing Indian food was offered from a local restaurant called Cross Culture. Local organizations called Youth4Unity and Desis of Doylestown pooled resources and organized what evolved beyond expectations.
I found myself smiling as I remembered my introduction to Indian culture. At age five and then a year later, at six, I went to The World’s Fair in NY with my parents and sister. My favorite display was the Indian pavilion. There, I saw dark haired women with bindi on their foreheads. The term “bindi” stems from the Sanskrit word bindu, which means drop or particle. It is placed over the third eye, so as to keep God in mind always. I was fascinated with them and they, in turn, were fascinated with my red haired sister. and kept patting her head. A discovery for all of us. When I was older, my parents took us to an annual multi-cultural fair at a local high school where I deepened my interest.
Back in 2006, I learned about the musical form called Konnakal, which is a universal rhythm language. An extraordinary performer named Loire Cotler has taken this ancient art form and made it her own. That, together with ragas and tabla music were the soundscape for the day. A teacher of Bollywood dance led a class. I managed to keep up for a few minutes and then decided to stand back and watch others move to the beckoning notes.
I indulged in a henna tattoo and chose a butterfly since it reminds me of my mother who told me when she was on hospice that she would return as a butterfly. Mendhi is the art of creating body embellishment with the dye made from plant Lawsonia inermis, also known as the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet. The dark raised stain lasts for about six hours and then wears off, leaving behind a stucco/rust colored imprint on the skin with the design visible.
What moved me more than anything about the day was an opportunity to call in the light to break through the shadow that has hung over this country for the past six years. In the past few years, I have found myself spiraling downward, caught up in the chaos and fear that has swirled around. I have felt a sense of hopelessness…until I stepped onto the park grounds and saw families dressed in beautifully decorated saris and kurtas, enjoying the food, the music and the joyful conversation. A high school student named Paree Pasi was the force of nature behind the event as well as compelling the district to make Diwali a school holiday. Her grace and composure made me wish I was that confident at her age. I enjoyed hugging vaccinated friends and felt a sense of hope. My heart is light.
“In the midst of darkness, light persists.” Mahatma Gandhi
Senator Steve Santarsiero gave a heartwarming speech and capped it off with this quote also by Gandhi that reflects the urgency of calling in the light.
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.”
Film produced by Thomas Brunt of TebWeb Innovations LLC
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photos courtesy of the author.