Indo-Canadian Voice Diwali 2022

Trudeau makes surprise visit at Surrey’s Cedar Hills Elementary

arts and crafts. In prepara tion for Diwali, the students and Trudeau made diyas, the small lamps that are lit to symbolize the spiritual victory of good (light) over evil (darkness).

STUDENTS and staff at Sur rey’s Cedar Hills Elementary had a very special guest this morning as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a sur prise visit to a Grade 2 class room.

Accompanied by Surrey Centre MP Randeep Sarai and Surrey—Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal, Trudeau took some time to talk to the class about his role as Can ada’s leader and answered some questions from many curious students.

“This is such a wonderful surprise for our students,” said Laurie Larsen, Chair of the Surrey Board of Educa tion. “It’s not often that stu dents get a chance to meet

the Prime Minister, and it is a privilege to have him speak directly to young students in our classrooms.”

Additionally, the Prime Min ister participated in some

“This is such a great oppor tunity for the kids to engage with the Prime Minister, ask him questions and learn about the importance of government at a very young age,” said Christian Oskam, Principal of Cedar Hills El ementary. “It’s a special experience that they will re member long after they’ve graduated.”

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Happy

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Justin Trudeau at Surrey's Cedar Hills Elementary.

Photo: Surrey Schools

The origin of Diwali

Hindu Mythology:

According to the Ramayana, Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the eldest son of King Dasharath of Ayodhya, from his 14-year exile with Sita and Lakshman after killing the Ravan, a demon king of Shri Lanka. The people of Ayodhya illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and had fireworks to celebrate the return of their king. In rural areas, Diwali signifies Harvest Festival. Diwali which occurs at the end of a cropping season. Every harvest normally spelt prosperity. The celebration was first started in India by farmers after they reaped their harvests. They celebrated this festival with joy and offered praises to God for granting them a good crop.

During the reign of Emperor Prithu, there was a worldwide famine. He ordered that all available cultivatable lands be ploughed. When the rains came, the land became very fertile and grains were planted. The harvest provided food not only to feed whole of India, but for all the civilizations. This harvest was close to Diwali time and was a good reason to celebrate Diwali with great joy and merriment by a wider community.

When Lord Krishna destroyed Narakasur on the day before Diwali, the news travelled very rapidly throughout the land. It gave people, who were already in a joyful mood, another reason for celebrating Diwali with greater pride and joy. In the Adi Parva of the Mahabarat, the Pandavas returned from the forest during Diwali time. Once more, the celebrations extended beyond the boundaries of India to wherever Hindus lived.

In the Adi Parva of the Mahabarat, the Pandavas returned from the forest during Diwali time. Once more, the celebrations extended beyond the boundaries of India to wherever Hindus lived.

It is on the same day of Amavasya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the great sage who was one of the first to light the torch of Hindu Renaissance during the last century, passed into Eternity. Swami Ramatirth who carried the fragrance of the spiritual message of Hindu Dharma to the western world, also passed into eternity on this day. The lights kindled on this day also mark the attempt of their followers to immortalize the sacred memories of those great men who lived to brighten the lives of millions of their fellow beings. The passing of these great men have indeed brought the national-cum-spiritual tradition of Deepavali right up to modern times.

Sikh Festival Diwali:

In the perspective of Sikhism, Diwali is celebrated as the return of the sixth Guru, Shri Guru Hargobind Ji from the captivity in Gwalior. History states two commonly known reasons for his imprisonment. One is that the Muslim Raja approached Guru Hargobind Ji upon his entering Gwalior and told the Guru to denounce his Sikh religion and to join the Muslim faith.

With the intention of utilizing the Guru’s great strength and fearlessness in battles. Being outraged by this request, the Guru rejected his proposition. In retaliation he captured the Guru and held him against his will. But eventually the Guru managed to free himself from his captivity and returned to his beloved town of Amritsar.

To commemorate his undying love for Sikhism, the townspeople lit his Contway to Shri Harmandhir Sahib (referred to as the Golden Temple).

Jain Festival Diwali:

Among the Jain festivals, Diwali is one of the most important one. On this day Jainies celebrate the Nirvana of Lord Mahavir who established Jain dharma for his followers. Lord Mahavira was born as Vardhaman on Chaitra Shukl 13 in the Nata clan at Khattiya-kundapura, near Vaishali. He obtained Kevala Gyana on Vishakha Shukla 10 at the Jambhraka village on the banks of Rijukula River at the age of 42. He initiated his Jain Shaashan on Shravana Krashna-1 at his first assembly at Rajgrah. After having preached the dharma for 30 years, he attained Nirvana at Pava, at the age of 71.

Celebration:

In North India on the day of the Diwali the chil-

dren emerge, scrubbed clean to get into their festive attire, and light up little oil lamps, candles and agarbathis the wherewithal for setting alight crackers and sparklers.

In the same way, on the second day of the month of Kartik, the people of Maharashtra exchange gifts. In Maharashtra, it is the thirteenth day of Ashwin, the trayodasi, that is observed as a festival commemorating a young prince

youth, the legend goes, Yama promised that those who observed the day would be spared untimely death—and so the lamps that are lit to mark the festival are placed facing south, unlike on other festive days, because south is the direction mythologically assigned to Yama.

For the Bengalis, it is the time to worship Goddess Kali, yet another form of Durga, the divine embodiment of supreme energy. KALI is the

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Happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas

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oil and wick and lighting them in rows all over the house is a tradition that is popular in most regions of the country. In the north, most communities observe the custom of lighting lamps. However, in the south, the custom of lighting baked earthen lamps is not popular. The lights signify a welcome to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth. The fireworks are supposed to scare away evil spirits. For the grown-ups, there is also a custom of indulging in gam bling during Diwali, as a part of celebration

which is not reasonable.

Whatever may be the fables and legends behind the celebrations of Diwali, all people in India exchange sweets, wear new clothes and buy jewellery at this festive time. Greet ing cards are exchanged and sent to friends and relatives. There is lot of shopping for this day and in all this frenzy of shopping and eating, the steady, burning lamps are a constant symbol of an illuminated mind.

Contributed by KARUNA JOSHI

A robust Bhangra performance to celebrate Diwali at Canuck’s Game in 2021

Photo by SUKHWANT DHILLON / AM 600 Sher-E-Punjab Radio

devotees with

sincerity of

Love.

Tradition:

Diwali is a modified word of Deepavali, the literal meaning of which in Sanskrit is ‘a row of lamps.’ Filling little clay lamps with

In 2017, Canada Post and India Post jointly issued two stamps to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

Leading into Truth and Light

DIWALI, which leads us into Truth and Light is celebrated on a nation-wide scale in India on Amavasya - the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ash win (Aasho) (October / November) every year. It symbolizes that age-old culture of our country which teaches us to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge. Diwali, the festival of lights even to-day in this modern world projects the rich and glorious past of our country and teaches us to uphold the true values of life. The word “Diwali” is the corruption of the Sanskrit word “Deepavali” - Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. It means a row of lights and indeed illumination forms its main attraction. Every home - lowly or upscale - the hut of the poor or the man sion of the rich - is alit with the orange glow of twinkling diyas-small earthen lamps - to welcome Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Multi-coloured Rangoli designs, floral decorations and fireworks lend gran deur to this festival which heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuing year.

This festival is celebrated on a grand scale in almost all the regions of India and is looked upon mainly as the beginning of New Year. As such the blessings of Lakshmi, the celes tial consort of Lord Vishnu are invoked with prayers. Even countries like Gkyena, Thai land, Trinidad, Siam and Malaya celebrate this festival but in their own ways.

This Diwali festival, it is surmised dates back to that period when perhaps history was not written, and in its progress through centu ries it lighted path of thousands to attain the ultimate good and complete ecstasy.

Diwali or more aptly Deepavali is very en thusiastically celebrated for five continuous days and each day has its significance with a number of myths, legends and beliefs.

The FIrst day is called DHANtErAs or DHANtrAYODA sHI which falls on the thir teenth day of the month of Ashwin. The word “Dhan” means wealth. As such this day of the five-day Diwali festival has a great importance for the rich mercantile commu nity of Western India. Houses and Business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colourful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to wel come the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and ver milion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights. Be lieving this day to be auspicious women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. “Lakshmi-Puja” is per formed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. “Bhajans”-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and “Na ivedya” of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya. In villages cattles are adorned and wor shipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are sup posed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day.

A very interesting story about this day is of the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his mar riage. On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband’s boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing songs. When Yam, the god of Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince’s chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melo

dious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young wife saved her hus band from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of “YAMADEEPDAAN” and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.

The sECOND day is called NArKA-CHAtUrDA sHI or CHOtI DIWALI which falls on the fourteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The story goes that the demon king Narakasur ruler of Pragjyotishpur ( a province to the South of Nepal) after defeating Lord Indra had snatched away the magnificent earrings of Aditi, the Mother Goddess and imprisoned

sixteen thousand daughters of the gods and saints in his harem. On the day previous to Narakachaturdashi, Lord Krishna killed the demon and liberated the imprisoned dam sels and also recovered those precious ear rings of Aditi. As a symbol of that victory Lord Krishna smeared his forehead with the demon king’s blood. Krishna returned home in the very early morning of the Narakach aturdashi day. The womenfolk massaged scented oil to his body and gave him a good bath to wash away the filth from his body. Since then the custom of taking bath before sunrise on this day has become a traditional practice specially in Maharashtra.

In South India that victory of the divine over the mundane is celebrated in a very peculiar way. People wake up before sunrise prepare blood by mixing Kumkum in oil and after breaking a bitter fruit that represents the head of the demon King that was smashed by Krishna, apply that mixture on their fore heads. Then they have an oil bath using san dalwood paste.

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Leading into Truth and Light

Continued FRoM 9

In Maharashtra also, traditional early baths with oil and “Uptan” (paste) of gram flour and fra grant powders are a `must’. All through the ritual of baths, deafening sounds of crackers and fire works are there in order that the children enjoy bathing. Afterwards steamed vermiceli with milk and sugar or puffed rice with curd is served.

Another legend is about King Bali of the nether world mighty power had become a threat to the gods. In order to curb his powers Lord Vishnu in the guise of a Batu Waman- a small boy- visited him and begged him to give him only that much land which he could cover with his three steps. Known for his philanthropy King Bali proudly granted him his wish. That very moment that small boy transformed himself into the all-pow erful Lord Vishnu. With his first step Lord Vishnu covered the entire heaven and with the second step the earth and asked Bali where to keep his third step. Bali offered his head. Putting his foot on his head Vishnu pushed him down to the underworld. At the same time for his generos ity Lord Vishnu gave him the lamp of knowledge and allowed him 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.

This Narakachaturdashi day therefore is dedi cated to lights and prayers heralding a future full of joy and laughter.

The tHiRd day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day of LAKSHMi-PuJA which is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. This day is also known by the name of “CHOPADA-PUJA”. On this very day sun enters his second course and passes Libra which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an amavasya day it is regarded as the most auspicious.

The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of Amavasya. The strains of joyous sounds of bells and drums float from the temples as man is invoking Goddess Lakshmi in a wondrous holy “pouring-in” of his heart. All of a sudden that impenetrable darkness is pierced by innumer able rays of light for just a moment and the next moment a blaze of light descends down to earth from heaven as golden-footed Deep-Lakshmi

alights on earth in all her celestial glory amidst chantings of Vedic hymns. A living luminance of Universal Motherhood envelopes the entire world in that blessed moment of fulfillment of a long-awaited dream of the mortal. A sublime light of knowledge dawns upon humanity and devotion of man finally conquers ignorance. This self enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the palac es of the wealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor. It is believed that on this day Lak shmi walks through the green fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty and prosperity. When the sun sets in the evening and ceremonial worship is finished all the home-made sweets are offered to the goddess as “NAIVEDYA” and distributed as “PRASAD”. Feasts are arranged and gifts are ex changed on this day gaily dressed men, women and children go to temples and fairs, visit friends and relatives. Everything is gay, gold and glitter!

One of the most curious customs which char acterises this festival of Diwali is the indulgence of gambling, specially on a large scale in North India. It is believed that goddess Parvati played dice with her husband, Lord Shiv on this day and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuring year. This tradition of playing cards- flush and rummy with stakes on this particular day contin ues even to-day.

On this auspicious day Lord Shri Krishna around whom revolved the entire story of our great epic Mahabharat and the philosopher, who preached Karmayog through his Geeta to Arjun on the bat tlefield of Kurukshetra, discarded his body.

Bhagwan, Mahavir, the Jain prophet also at tained “Nirvan” on this day.

Swami Ramtirth, the beloved “Ram Badshah” of millions of Indians was not only born on this day and took “Sanyas” but also took “Samadhi” on this day.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of BrahmaSamaj with his superb yogic powers greed his soul from his body and mingled with divinity on this auspicious day of Diwali.

We kindle innumerable lights on this day to im mortalise the sacred memories of those great men who lived to brighten the lives of millions of their fellow beings.

One very interesting story about this Diwali day is from Kathopanishad of a small boy called Nichik eta who believed that Yam, the god of Death was as black as the dark night of amavasya. But when

he met Yam in person he was puzzled seeing Yam’s calm countenance and dignified stature. Yam explained to Nichiketa on this Diwali day of amavasya that by only passing through the dark ness of death, man sees the light of highest wis dom and then only his soul can escape from the bondage of his mortal frame to mingle with the Supreme Power without whose will not an at ton moves in the world. And then Nichiketa realised the importance of worldly life and significance of death. Nichiketa’s all doubts were set at rest and he whole-heartedly participated in Diwali celebrations.

The FouRtH day is PAdWA or VARSHAPRAti PAdA which marks the coronation of King Vikra maditya and Vikaram-Samvat was started from this Padwa day.

Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on this day. As per Vishnu-Puran the people of Gokul used to celebrate a festival in honour of Lord Indira and worshipped him after the end of every monsoon season but one particular year the young Krishna stopped them from offering prayers to Lord Indra who in terrific anger sent a deluge to submerge Gokul. But Krishna saved his Gokul by lifting up the Govardhan mountain and holding it over the people as an umbrella. Govardhan is a small hillock in Braj, near Mathu ra and on this day of Diwali people of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar build cow dung, hillocks, decorate them with flowers and then worship them.

This day is also observed as Annakoot mean ing mountain of food. In temples specially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given milkbath, dressed in shining attires with orna ments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the prayers and tra ditional worship innumerable varieties of deli cious sweets are ceremoniously raised in the form of a mountain before the deities as “Bhog” and then the devotees approach the Mountain of Food and take Prasad from it.

Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in every Hindu household and her blessings sought for success and happiness. This day is looked upon as the most auspicious day to start any new venture. In many Hindu homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red tilak on the forehead of her husband, garland him and do his “Aarathi” with a prayer for his long life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly gift. This Gudi Padwa is sym

bolic of love and devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly-married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents. In olden days brothers went to fetch their sisters from their in-laws home for this important day.

The FiFtH and FinAL day of Diwali Festival is known by the name of “BHAYYA-duJ” in the Hindi-speaking belt “BHAV-BiJ” in the Marathispeaking communities and in Nepal by the name of “BHAI-TIKA”. As the legend goes Yamraj, the God of Death visited his sister Yami on this partic ular day. She put the auspicious tilak on his fore head, garlanded him and led him with special dishes and both of them together ate the sweets, talked and enjoyed themselves to their heart’s content, while parting Yamraj gave her a special gift as a token of his love and in return Yami also gave him a lovely gift which she had made with her own hands. That day Yamraj announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister will never be thrown. That is why this day of Bhayyaduj is also known by the name of “YAMADWITIYA” Since then this day is being observed as a symbol of love between sisters and brothers. It became also imperative for the brother to go to his sister’s house to celebrate Bhayyaduj.

In today’s world when pressing everyday prob lems are teaming as under all the tender words of personal relationships, the celebrating of this day has its own importance in continuing to maintain the love between brothers and sisters for it is the day of food-sharing, gift-giving and reaching out to the inner most depths of the hearts.

Diwali on the whole has always been the festival with more social than religious connotations. It is a personal, people-oriented festival when en mities are forgotten, families and friends meet, enjoy and establish a word of closeness.

As a festival of light and beauty it encourages artistic expressions through home-decorations stage-plays, elocution competitions singing and dancing programmes, making gift items and making delectable sweets thereby discovering new talents of younger people. As a result innu merable communities with varying cultures and customs mingle together to make Diwali cel ebrations a very happy occasion for all.

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore has so aptly put forth the true significance of Diwali in these beautiful lines:

The night is black Kindle the lamp of LOVE