Diwali

A Primer for Nonpractitioners

Overview ​​​[Source: BBC Web Archive] Diwali (pronounced dee-vah-lee) is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It is a five-day festival, with the primary night of Diwali occurring on the third day. The BBC writes: "The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance, although the actual legends that go with the festival differ in different parts of India. Diwali is known as the 'festival of lights' because houses, shops, and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps called diyas. These lamps, which are traditionally fueled by mustard oil, are placed in rows in windows, doors, and outside buildings to decorate them. The lamps are lit to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into people's homes. They also celebrate one of the Diwali legends, which tells of the return of Rama and Sita to Rama's kingdom after fourteen years of exile.  For many Indians, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. People start the new business year at Diwali, and some Hindus will say prayers to the goddess for a successful year. Some people build a small altar to the goddess and decorate it with money and pictures of the rewards of wealth, such as cars and houses. Hindus will leave the windows and doors of their houses open so that Lakshmi can come in. Diwali is also used to celebrate a successful harvest. Traditionally, sweets and dried fruit were very common gifts to exchange, but the festival has become more commercial. Diwali is also traditionally a time to clean and redecorate homes and buy new clothes."

Dates ​​Late autumn, varies; usually late-October to mid-November.  Focus Celebrate the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness. * Commemorates the return of Rama and Sita after 14 years of exile. Wishes for good fortune in the coming year Common Customs​​ > ​Key Figures and Stories​​ Ramayana, the Hindu epic in which prince Rama defeats the evil demon Ravana and rescues his wife, Sita. Learn More​​ hinduamerican.org/diwali-toolkit

https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/the-symbolism-of-ravanas-10-heads

The Legend of the Battle of Rama and Ravana

(Source: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali)

Ravana, who had ten arms and ten heads, was the wicked king of the island of Sri Lanka, who kidnapped the wife of Rama. Rama had been in exile for 14 years because of a disagreement about whether he or his brother should be the next king of Ayodhya. After a great battle, Rama killed the demon and recovered his wife. Rama's return with his wife Sita to Ayodhya and his subsequent coronation as king is celebrated at Diwali.

https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-diwali

When Rama and Sita first returned to Ayodhya, it was a dark, moonless night, and they couldn't see where they were going. Their people put little lamps outside their houses so that the new king and queen could find their way, thus beginning the tradition of the festival of lights. [...] Hindus interpret the Diwali story based on where they live. But there's one common theme no matter where people celebrate: the victory of good over evil."

Respectful engagement through a UU lens

UU Beliefs That Resonate Diwali

• ​Principle 6: Global Community

• UU Value: Generosity

UU Connections​

• Learn about Hindu Unitarian Universalists

• The Sacred in Images: Hindu Darshan and UU

• Adams, Emerson, Thoreau: How Hinduism influenced some of America’s greatest thinkers

• Hinduism in America: Trade and Transcendentalism