Diwali Celebrated in Pakistan

[Guest guest]

LAHORE, Pakistan (02 November 2005): The last day of Diwali, a Hindu

festival of lights, was celebrated in the Agarwal Ashram, Lower

Mall, on Tuesday, which was attended by many Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims,

Christians and other minorities from around the province.

 

The Agarwal Ashram was decorated with lovely traditional motifs to

welcome Lakshami, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Doors

of Hindu houses were splashed with colours to indicate the long-

awaited arrival of the goddess and walls were covered with small

footprints made from rice, flour and vermilion powder.

 

However, not a single Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) senior

official participated in the function which started in the evening

(Tuesday). Pandit Baghat Lal recited the Katha from Ramayana and

performed Aarati, a ritual in which the form of the Lord is

symbolically illuminated. Later, fireworks were held and Parsad and

Langar were distributed among the participants.

 

Human Rights adviser to the chief minister Rana Ijaz, Punjab

Minority Affairs General Secretary Jacqueline Tressler, former

Gurudawara Perbundik Committee chairman Sardar Sham Singh and Dr

Nempal Singh addressed the participants on the occasion.

 

"We are Pakistanis first and then belong to a religion," Tressler

said. She urged the participants to help quake victims and donate to

the President's Relief Fund.

 

Hindus celebrate Diwali every year for five continuous days on

Amavasya-the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of

Ashwin (October/November). The word `Diwali' is a corruption of the

Sanskrit word `Deepavali'. `Deepa' means light and `Avali' means a

row. Hindu houses are lit with twinkling diyas (small earthen lamps)

to welcome Lakshami. Multi-coloured rangoli designs, floral

decorations and fireworks lend flair and grandeur to this festival

which, for Hindus, heralds joy and happiness for the coming year.

 

Each day of Diwali is associated with myths, legends and beliefs:

The first day is called Dhanteras, or Dhantrayodashi, and falls on

the thirteenth day of month Ashwin. The word "Dhan" means wealth and

one story associated with the day tells of the 16-year-old son of

King Hima. It had been predicted that the son would die from

snakebite on the fourth day of his marriage. So on the day, the wife

kept the prince awake by singing and story telling. She placed

ornaments and gold and silver coins at the entrance of her husband's

bedroom and lit innumerable lamps.

 

When Yam, the god of death, arrived, disguised as a serpent, his

eyes were blinded by the lamps light and he could not enter the

prince's chamber. Thus, the young wife saved her husband from death.

Since then, the day of Dhanteras was known as Yamadeepdaan and lamps

are kept alight throughout the night in reverence to Yam.

 

The second day of Diwali is called Narka-Chaturdashi or Choti Dival.

The legend attached to it says that King Bali had became very

powerful and a threat to other gods. In order to curb his powers,

Lord Vishnu visited him, disguised as a small boy, and begged him to

give him a piece of land which he could cover with his three steps.

Known for his philanthropy, King Bali proudly granted him his wish.

That very moment that small boy transformed himself into the all-

powerful Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu crossed the entire heaven with his

first step and the whole of the earth with the second step. He then

asked Bali where he should place his third step and Bali offered his

head. Putting his foot on his head, Vishnu pushed the tricked king

down into the underworld. To reward him for his generosity, Lord

Vishnu gave him the lamp of knowledge and allowed him to return to

earth once a year to light millions of lamps to dispel darkness and

ignorance and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. The day of

Narakachaturdashi is therefore dedicated to lights and prayers

heralding a future full of joy and laughter.

 

SOURCE: Daily Times, Lahore. Diwali's last day celebrated at Agarwal

Ashram, by Shahnawaz Khan

URL: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C11%5C02%

5Cstory_2-11-2005_pg7_20