HAPPY DIWALI
October 26, 2019 | Volume 28 | Number 43 | Phone: 604-502-6100 • Fax: 604-501-6111 WHY DO WE CELEBRATE DIWALI? It’s not just the festive mood in the air that makes you happy, or just that it’s a good time to enjoy before the advent of winter. There are 10 mythical and historical reasons why Diwali is a great time to celebrate. And there are good reasons not just for Hindus but also for all others to celebrate this great Festival of Lights.
day, hence Diwali became a historical event as well.
Goddess LakshmiJi’s Birthday:
Mahavir Tirthankar, considered to be the founder of modern Jainism also attained his nirvana on Diwali day.
Special Day for the Arya Samaj: It was the new moon day of Kartik (Diwali day) when Maharshi Dayananda, one of the greatest reformers of Hinduism and the founder of Arya Samaj attained his nirvana.
Special Day for the Jains:
The Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi incarnated on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month during the churning of the ocean (samudra-manthan), hence the association of Diwali with Lakshmi.
Vishnu Rescued Lakshmi: On this very day (Diwali day), Lord Vishnu in his fifth incarnation as Vaman-avtaara rescued Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali and this is another reason of worshipping Ma Larkshmi on Diwali.
Krishna Killed Narakaasur:
Special Day for the Sikhs:
THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS IS FOR ALL
On the day preceding Diwali, Lord Krishna killed the demon king Narakaasur and rescued 16,000 women from his captivity. The celebration of this freedom went on for two days including the Diwali day as a victory festival.
harata’, it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ when the Pandavas appeared from their 12 years of banishment as a result of their defeat in the hands of the Kauravas at the game of dice (gambling). The subjects who loved the Pandavas celebrated the day by lighting the earthen lamps.
was the new moon day of Kartik when Lord Ram, Ma Sita, and Lakshman returned to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana and conquering Lanka. The citizens of Ayodhya decorated the entire city with the earthen lamps and illuminated it like never before.
The Return of the Pandavas:
The Victory of Rama:
One of the greatest Hindu King Vikramaditya was coroneted on the Diwali
According to the great epic ‘Mahab-
According to the epic ‘Ramayana’, it
Coronation of Vikramaditya:
The third Sikh Guru Amar Das institutionalized Diwali as a RedLetter Day when all Sikhs would gather to receive the Gurus blessings. In 1577, the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid on Diwali. In 1619, the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind, who was held by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, was released from the Gwalior fort along with 52 kings.
The Pope’s Diwali Speech: In 1999, Pope John Paul II performed a special Eucharist in an Indian church where the altar was decorated with Diwali lamps, the Pope had a ‘tilak’ marked on his forehead and his speech bristled with references to the festival of light.
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Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali | Saturday, Oct 26, 2019
Diwali – Festival of Lights BY DR. SARWAN SINGH RANDHAWA Community Librarian-Supervisor Muriel Arnason Library THE word “Diwali” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Deepavali” - Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. It means a row of lights. The more literal translation is “rows of lighted lamps”. It is referred to as the Festival of Lights. It marks the beginning of the new year and symbolizes a renewal of life. Many festivals are celebrated in India, some of them only in some locales, but Diwali is one of the happiest of the great Indian festivals and is celebrated all over India and most parts of the world. It is one of the grandest celebrations of Indo-Canadians, and is the most important and colorful of the Indian Festivals, having aspects of the western traditional holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We give thanks to God and share good will with fellow human beings. Diwali comes on the darkest night of the year, in late October or early November. In Hindu philosophy dark-
ness represents ignorance and lighting the lamp signifies overcoming ignorance and gaining knowledge. It is a celebration of joy, brightness and happiness. Interestingly, the Diwali festival coincides with the October festival of Halloween. As the Halloween in the western world is traditionally associated with spirits and the dead, Diwali is associated with the victory of good over evil, as well as sharing, caring, forgiving, and loving sentiments. Diwali is held in memory by mythological and historical stories, which say that the evil demons were slain by many God incarnations. On this day Lord Rama returned to his kingdom after fourteen years of exile. People rejoice because Lord Rama had conquered Ravana, a cruel king. He had conquered evil, and good had triumphed. Among the Sikhs, Diwali came to have a special significance on the return to its sixth master, Guru Hargobind who had been held captive in the fort of Gwalior under the orders of Mughal emperor Jahangir. Guru ji also got 52 Hindu
rajas (small kings) released from the prison of Jahangir. The celebration of Diwali is marked by the lighting of innumerable lamps in every courtyard and the bursting of crackers. Sweetmeats and new clothing are purchased. Every home is cleaned, beautifully painted and decorated with flowers, garlands and colorful lamps. People go house to house to exchange gifts and sweets. They try to forget old grudges and wipe the slate clean. The time for rejoicing is mainly early morning and late night. The hours of darkness bordering the waking hours are preferred as lights and crackers are the highlights of the festivities and these are most effectively illuminated at these hours. Hence, people rise early and go to sleep late. At night, every building is lit with little lamps to attract the blessings of the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. In the Hindu culture, this festival also seen as renewal of life. In Hindu custom, light signifies goodness. This is a five day festival. Each day
is marked with a significant ‘puja’ of a certain God or Goddess. All the business people start new business calendars and celebrate their new year at this time. They worship the Goddess Lakshmi to bless their new account books. At temples, there is devotional music, singing and dancing as well as lots of food. All Sikh temples, homes and businesses are generally illuminated during the week of Diwali celebration. Special prayers are made for the prosperity and well-being of everyone on earth. The best and most attractive Diwali is celebrated at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Worshippers float multi-colored light candles on the water and the Gurdwara holds a grand fireworks display. Lot of sweets and food are served. Thus, the theme behind celebrating Diwali is “good conquering evil”. From darkness we enter into light, and light empowers us to do good deeds and bring us closer to divinity. Therefore our Diwali festival promotes social and practical purposes of sharing, caring, forgiving, and loving sentiments. This gives a message to fight various social evils with the illumination of our inner lights.
Happy Diwali
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Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali | Saturday, Oct 26, 2019
BC’s public school teachers are proud to join in the celebration of
Diwali
Diwali Recipe: CardamomScented Coconut Kheer Recipe
NO Diwali meal is complete without sweets or mithai. Taking inspiration from traditional kheer or rice pudding, this dairy-free Cardamom-Scented Coconut Kheer uses rich and creamy coconut milk, coconut beverage, and a bit of shredded coconut – all available at your local Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills. If you can get your hands on a nice fresh coconut (the brown kind, not young green), freshly shredded coconut is a delicious addition to this dessert. The flavours are tropical and warm, and just what we need on these cool autumn nights. It’s also the perfect dessert to end your Diwali festivities – kids and adults will love this creamy, coconut kheer. Added bonus: this dish is dairy-free and can be made vegan by swapping coconut sugar for white sugar. Cardamom-Scented Coconut Kheer
We are all enriched when we share our cultural traditions. A message from the Surrey Teachers’ Association
1/2 cup basmati rice (I used Suraj brand), washed, soaked in water for 15 minutes, and then drained 5 cardamom pods, crushed 1/4 cup coconut sugar or cane sugar or white sugar 1 can full fat coconut milk
1 500ml tetra pack of coconut milk or 2 cups of unsweetened coconut beverage (I used Silk brand) 2 cups unsweetened cashew or almond beverage (I used Earth’s Own Cashew Fresh) 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut Heat coconut milk, coconut beverage and cashew/almond beverage in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Mix frequently, do not let burn. Bring to just boiling point and then lower heat to medium low. Add crushed cardamom, drained rice and sugar, and continue to cook for 45 – 55 minutes, stirring frequently. When rice is soft and milk has reduced to a creamy consistency, check sweetness and add sugar until desired sweetness is reached – I usually stop around 1/4 cup. In a small frypan, lightly toast shredded coconut on medium heat, mixing frequently until light brown. Serve kheer in pretty bowls with a generous sprinkle of toasted coconut on top. You can also add toasted almonds, cashews or pistachios, and when it’s in season, sliced mango. Enjoy! Find more recipes, pop culture stories and South Asian lifestyle content on jugnistyle. com.
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Saturday, Oct 26, 2019 | Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali
The Origin of Diwali
Deepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest
of all Hindu festivals. It’s the festival of lights (deep = light and avali= a row i.e., a row of lights) that’s marked by four days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. This year Diwali falls on Sunday, October 30th, 2016. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness. Historically, the origin of Diwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali or ‘Deepawali.’ Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha, the elephantheaded God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana . Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from hisfourteenyearong exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers. These Four Days Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasimarks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return to earth once a year, to light millions of lamps to
dispel the darkness and ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day of Deepawali — Kartika Shudda Padyami that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes. The Significance of Lights & Firecrackers All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression of obei-
sance to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. According to one belief, the sound of firecrackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the crackers kill a lot of insects and mosquitoes, found in plenty after the rains. The Tradition of Gambling The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband
Lord Shiva, and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of ‘Dhanteras’ (‘dhan’ = wealth; ‘teras’ = 13th) is celebrated two days before the festival of lights. From Darkness Unto Light... In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light —
the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it’s a celebration of South-Asian identities. If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light and illuminate the soul.
HAPPY DIWALI
Send greetings to loved ones with our Diwali stamps
Spread the light of happiness! Send greetings to loved ones with our festive Diwali stamps. Resplendent with glowing diyas and celeberatory colours, these stamps will be memorable on greetings, as gifts, and to add to any collection. Available at Canada Post locations or canadapost.ca/diwali
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Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali | Saturday, Oct 26, 2019
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Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali | Saturday, Oct 26, 2019
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Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali | Saturday, Oct 26, 2019
10 Quick Diwali Sweets Recipes No celebration is complete without a touch of sweet. Desserts are the highlight of every Indian festival. They add much more enthusiasm to the festive spirit. With Diwali around the corner, festivities have finally stepped in. Just like the multicolored rangolis that adorn the entrances of our homes, there is nothing quite like a dessert table decked with a variety of Diwali sweets. This Diwali, light up your homes with our festive dessert recipes. Ditch the elaborate presentation and fancy ingredients, here are super-easy solutions to soothe your aching sweet tooth. Most of these can be prepared in advance for those unannounced guests and untimely cravings. Everyday ingredients and a couple of minutes are all you need to spread bright smiles and sparkle with satisfaction. We bring you, the simplest sweets from across the country. There’s something for everyone! 1. Goan Nevri Nevri is a Konkani sweet that is quite similar to a Karanji from Maharashtra or Gujiya from Uttar Pradesh. It is stuffed with a grated co-
Indian dessert made with gram flour. It is popularly made in Rajasthan and Gujarat, especially during Diwali.
dessert is known to have originated in the Mysore Palace. It is a rich mix of desi ghee, gram flour and sugar.
8. Patishapta This is traditional Bengali dessert. Thin crepes are made with rice flour, maida and sooji and served with a coconut-jaggery filling.
10. Coconut Til Ladoos
5. Badaam Halwa & Barfis
conut along with almonds. 2. Kaju Katli Barfis made with cashew nuts, kaju katli is one of the most popular giveaways during Diwali. This season, surprise your friends and family with home-made treats. 3. Rava Kheer Step away from the usual with this creamy concoction of milk, dry fruits and sooji (semolina). 4. Chocolate Gujiya Fusion is the flavor of the season. Serve the good old gujiyas in a modern avatar with a creamy chocolatechip stuffing. (Recipe Video)
With the same ingredients you can choose to make two desserts. Loaded with almonds, khoya, milk and poppy seeds, you can enjoy the warmth of the halwa or serve as barfis decorated with silver leaves. 6. Shahi Tukda This has been a favourite since ancient times and is super easy to make. Slices of bread are fried, soaked in milk and decorated with nuts. 7. Mohanthal Mohanthal is a fudge-like
9. Mysore Paak As the name suggests, this original recipe of this Indian
Recipe by Chef Sandeep Pande, Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel A three-ingredient recipe with coconut, sesame seeds and dates. Your aching sweet tooth shall be served in minutes!
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Saturday, Oct 26, 2019 | Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali
10 of the Most Important Hindu Gods For Hindus, there is a single, universal god known as the Supreme Being or Brahman. Hinduism also has numerous gods and goddesses, known as deva and devi, who represent one or more of Brahman’s aspects. Foremost among the many Hindu gods and goddesses are the Holy Triad of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the creator, sustainer and destroyer of worlds (in that order). Sometimes, the three may appear in the form of an avatar, embodied by a Hindu god or goddess. But the most popular of these gods and goddesses are important deities in their own right.
all sects of Hinduism, making him perhaps the most important of Hindu gods. He is typically depicted riding a mouse, who assists the deity in removing barriers to success, whatever the endeavour
The son of Shiva and Parvati, the pot-bellied elephant god Ganesha is the lord of success, knowledge, and wealth. Ganesha is worshiped by
preserver or sustainer of life. He represents the principles of order, righteousness, and truth. His consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of domesticity and prosperity. Hindu faithful who pray to Vishnu, called Vaishnavas, believe that in times of disorder, Vishnu will emerge from his transcendence to restore peace and order on earth.
Lakshmi:
Shiva:
Ganesha:
Vishnu. He is considered the perfect embodiment of humankind: mentally, spiritually and physically. Unlike other Hindu gods and goddesses, Rama is widely believed to be an actual historical figure whose exploits form the great Hindu epic “Ramayana.” Hindu faithful celebrate him during Diwali, the festival of light.
Shiva represents death and dissolution, destroying worlds so they may be recreated by Brahma. But he is also considered the master of dance and of regeneration. One of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity, Shiva is known by many names, including Mahadeva, Pashupati, Nataraja, Vishwanath and Bhole Nath. When he is not represented in his blue-skinned human form, Shiva is often depicted as a phallic symbol called the Shiva Lingam.
Krishna is the deity of love and compassion. He is frequently depicted with a flute, which he uses for its seductive powers. Krishna is the central character in the Hindu scripture “Bhagavad Gita” as well as an avatar of Vishnu, the Godhead of the Hindu Trinity. Krishna is widely revered among Hindus, and his followers are known as Vaishnavas.
Rama:
Krishna: One of the most beloved of Hindu gods, blue-skinned
Rama is the god of truth and virtue and another avatar of
Hanuman: Monkey-faced Hanuman is worshiped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance, and scholarly devotion. This divine primate aided Lord Rama in his battle against evil forces, described in the epic ancient Indian poem “Ramayana.” In times of trouble, it is common among Hindus to chant the name of Hanuman or sing his hymn, “Hanuman Chalisa.” Hanuman temples are among the most common public shrines found in India.
Vishnu: The peace-loving deity of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the
Lakshmi’s name comes from the Sanskrit word laksya, meaning an aim or goal. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. Lakshmi is depicted as a four-armed woman of golden complexion, holding a lotus bud as she sits or stands upon a massive lotus blossom. The deity of beauty, purity, and domesticity, the image of Lakshmi is often found in the homes of the faithful.
Durga: Durga is the mother goddess and she represents the fiery powers of the gods. She is the protector of the righteous and destroyer of the evil, usually portrayed as riding a lion and carrying weapons in her many arms.
Kali: Kali, also known as the dark goddess, appears as a fierce four-armed woman, her skin blue or black. She stands atop her husband Shiva, who lies calmly beneath her feet. Bloodsoaked, her tongue hanging out, Kali is the goddess of death and represents the ceaseless march of time toward doomsday.
Saraswati: Saraswati is the goddess of
knowledge, art, and music. She represents the free flow of consciousness. The daughter of Shiva and Durga, Saraswati is the mother of the Vedas. Chants to her, called Saraswati Vandana, often begin and end with lessons in how Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of speech and wisdom.
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Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali | Saturday, Oct 26, 2019
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Saturday, Oct 26, 2019 | Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali
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