Diwali, one of the largest, important Hindu festivals, is celebrated by about 1.2 billion Hindus worldwide during the month of October and November. The spiritual significance of Diwali is to “Give & forgive, Rise & shine, Unite & unify, Prosper & progress, Illuminate your inner self.”
It is a ‘festival of lights’ when Hindus decorate their homes and work spaces with twinkling lights and oil/wax lamps. The light symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Fireworks and food are a major part of the celebrations as well. This five-day festival includes worship of the cow, a sacred Hindu animal, and rituals to pray to the Goddess of Wealth, Laxmi (known as Lakshmi Pooja or Dhanteras).
Diwali was celebrated in Newton this week as Hindu residents lit up their houses with lights and families met to celebrate Diwali together. The Mayor attended a city-wide celebration where many families got together at the Durant-Kendrick House on October 24 with a small ‘diya lighting’ ceremony. Many South Asian families attended this event, arranged by parents. There was a fashion parade by younger elementary school kids, a dance performance by the Vidyanjali School of Dance, and a short prayer — Bhoomi Mangalam — presented by children. The celebration ended with an Odissi performance by Sushmita.
At Newton North High School, six South Asian teachers celebrated Diwali by decorating the Science and Math office, bringing in Indian sweets and inviting all the faculty to join the festivities and rejoice in the celebrations. Chemistry teacher Sangeet Srikanth, who started this Diwali celebration eight years ago, said, “I have been teaching here for 20 years, and the Science Department is like family to me now. Celebrating Diwali with my family here is now a special part of my Diwali celebration.”
Physics teacher Deb Lund said that she feels included when Hindu teachers bring Diwali celebrations into school because it makes the school a tight community, which speaks volumes for everybody in the school. She is grateful that Sangeet has introduced Diwali to Newton North and is comfortable to share her traditions with the school, making the school a stronger and better place.
Arielle Miles, a Chemistry teacher said, “It is more meaningful to learn about Diwali from a colleague, and I love to listen to Sangeet when she talks to her students about the rituals and meaning behind each day of Diwali.”
