Samhain, and Divali

[Guest guest]

It's sometimes strange maintaining two distinct

religious practices at the same time. Last Sunday my

coven gathered to celebrate Samhain, the Celtic Pagan

festival which originally inspired Halloween. We had

a Dumb Supper, sharing food with the spirits of our

deceased ancestors. My Dad passed away last June, so

I was particularly weepy. There was also a feast for

the living, lots of harvest-festival foods including a

pumpkin soup, vegetarian quiche, home-baked breads

with fruit preserves, and apples everywhere you looked

-- apple cider, apple tarts, apple pies...

 

The Wiccan legends say at this time of year the Horned

God leads the spirits of the dead to the Otherworld,

where he battles and defeats his rival, and resumes

the role of consort to the Great Mother. I argued

that this parallels the Hindu belief that Vishnu

awakens at Divali, dismissing Kubera back to his

Northern realm, while Vishnu resumes HIS role as

consort to Mother Lakshmi.

 

Several of my witchlets wanted to know how to

celebrate Divali. One noted that, since it was a Dark

Moon, shouldn't Kali be honored, rather than Lakshmi?

(I pointed out that Kali Puja in Bengal is the night

before Divali.) Our earnest Priestess wanted to mount

a batik tapestry of Lakshmi on her wall above her bed

as a ritual element of Divali. I told them about the

lamps in the windows, the exchange of gifts and dried

fruit. (Of course, no one wants to meditate or

perform Puja!)

 

On Tuesday night, alone in my apartment, I set up my

altar with images of Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati, and

Kubera. Burned candles in the windows, performed a

simple Puja to Kubera and Lakshmi, offering them

lights, incense, a kumbha of water, a bowl of raisins,

dates, and cashews, and many mantras. I ate the dried

fruit at the end of the Puja, and poured the water

over my Shiva lingam. I wish I had someone

knowledgible to perform Pujas with me!

 

I sent a check to the Hindu Temple in Flushing, to do

a Lakshmi-Kubera Puja for me Tuesday night. But

checking my balance via the phone, my bank says the

check was returned uncashed! I'll have to see what

THAT is about!

 

Happy Divali, everyone.

 

-- Len

 

 

 

 

 

 

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