In a country as diverse as India, where religious and cultural traditions differ from village to village, this time of year brings a surprisingly universal celebration. Though they call it by slightly different names and the holiday is celebrated based on differing religious backstories, Hindus, Sikhs and Jains are all in the midst of Diwali, widely accepted as the most joyful and festive time of the year.
Around Vancouver, families of Indian heritage are lighting diyas, small lamps that brighten the short autumn days and lengthening evenings, inviting friends in for meals and sweets, ritually celebrating family relationships and exchanging gifts.
Typically celebrated as a five-day festival — and depending on the calendar one follows — Diwali culminated this past Wednesday. In Vancouver, though, the big public celebration is this weekend.
Diwali is an ancient Hindu holy time, first codified in Sanskrit Hindu scriptures. Diwali marks the Hindu new year but beyond this commonality, even among Hindus the emphasis on the religious foundations of the celebration varies widely. Some celebrate the return from exile of Ramachandra, the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu, who defeated demon king Ravana. Others emphasize the goddess of fortune and happiness, Lakshmi.
Sikhs celebrate the narrative of Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru of the faith, who defeated the oppressors of his people and led a resurgence of the Sikh people in the 17th century.
Jains mark the attainment of nirvana by Lord Mahavira 2,600 years ago, an event said to have been accompanied by many gods illuminating the darkness.
Despite the variations in the accounts, the outward similarities are what make Diwali so surprisingly universal.
Rohit Chokhani, who was raised in a Hindu home in Mumbai and now lives here, is co-producer of Diwali Fest, which began Oct. 17 and ends Sunday, featuring performances, film screenings and public events in Vancouver and Surrey. He says Diwali transcends the vast religious and cultural differences among Indians.
“There’s a lot of diversity in India and Diwali unifies the diversity in this culture,” he says. “Depending on who you ask, everyone will have their own spiritual and religious beliefs on how they celebrate the festival.”
Especially younger Indians and Indo-Canadians will find the universal in the particular.
“People like me grew up with not just one religion, but we were surrounded by much intercultural, multicultural diversity,” Chokhani says. “So we started tying in what was common to various beliefs and we celebrated a more generic belief, which is a celebration of light over darkness, spirit over evil, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair, a message that is more universal to all the religions.”
In addition to food and hospitality, specific days in the Diwali period celebrate the relationships between husband and wife and between brother and sister. Family members will privately perform rituals according to their custom throughout Diwali.
“We would sit in front of the altar and collect various denominations of currency and coins,” says Chokhani. “The principle, really, is to pray to the higher force for the well-being of the family from the financial aspects of things and the well-being of the family in every matter, and also the well-being of people who you do business and trade with.”
Bringing gold coins as gifts during holidays visits is a common practice. Contributing to charities is also a Diwali tradition, as is offering food to animals, including sacred cows.
Perhaps the defining visual motif of the holiday is the rangoli, an elaborate art in which intricate designs are created on the floors of homes or courtyards using colored rice or powders. Some families will redesign the rangoli every day. (At Diwali Downtown Vancouver, which takes place Saturday at the Roundhouse, from 2 to 8 p.m., a room-size rangoli will be on display. The free event will also feature multiple venues with Indian music, dance, crafts and food.)
For most Vancouverites of Indian heritage, regardless of religion, Diwali is the biggest celebration of the year.
“There are a lot of other festivals,” says Chokhani. “It depends who you ask and what it means to someone. In terms of my roots and where I come from, Diwali is my favorite festival.”
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