Hindus take part in Diwali
By TODD MCHALE
Burlington County Times
CHERRY HILL — Hundreds of Hindus from across the region came out to take part in yesterday's Diwali celebration at the BAPS Temple in Cherry Hill.
“Today is Diwali. It is the victory of good over evil,” said K.D. Patel of Delran of the major Indian festival that is celebrated here and across the globe.
The festival is significant in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism and widely known as the Festival of Lights. The lights signify victory of good over the evil within every human being.
In many parts of India, Diwali represents the homecoming of Lord Rama of Ayodya after a 14-year exile in the forest and a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people of Ayodhya lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness.
While the festival officially falls Tuesday this year, Patel said they celebrated Diwali yesterday in order to allow for more people to come and enjoy the festivities.
During the festival, Diwali is celebrated with fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship.
“It's a huge festival like Christmas and New Years Day,” Patel said.
Neil Patel, also of Delran, said he and about 30 others spent about two weeks setting up the temple for the festival.
“Nothing is the same. Everything is different every year,” Neil Patel said the decorations
He said more than 2,200 items were brought in by worshipers and offered to the deities for this year's celebration.
“They are food items,” K.D. Patel said. “The food can be made of the same ingredients but they are cooked in several ways.”
The food will be eaten at the end of the day after the worship, according to Chirag Patel of Delran.
Sheena Patel of Evesham said the festival offers an opportunity to show others about her religion, Hinduism.
“I think it's nice, because we get to spread the word about our religion,” the 15-year-old said. “We get to bond with our family and meet and greet with other people.”
Chirag Patel said he was pleased with this year's turnout.
“I thing it's going well. It's a good turnout,” he said.
“Every Hindu in the area will devote time to come to the temple today.”
Contact Todd McHale at tmchale@phillyBurbs.com.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-10272008-1611524.html
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment