FESTIVALS OF LIGHT: DIVALI, HALLOWEEN, HANNUKAH AND CHRISTMAS

At the time of the year when the days get darker and colder, we humans seems to need a festival of light which will give us hope. In the West, we celebrate Hannukah or Christmas – even Halloween and the next day, All Saints Day or the Day of the Dead. But the Hindu holiday, Diwali, which was celebrated last week, is also a festival of lights and the similarities underneath the differences are striking.

Imagine Christmas, New Year, Passover, Easter and July 4th all rolled into one holiday--that's Diwali. Houses are given a spic and span cleaning, people wear new clothes, eat a lot of sweets and get together with family and friends. There are fireworks and all through the house there are lights ablaze -- tiny cups of oil with cotton wicks.

Like Hinduism itself, the diversity of Gods honoured and remembered at this holiday are multi-faceted! So many different Gods and different stories. But two stand out: the story of Rama and the story of Lakshmi.

The Ramayana tells the tale of Rama and Sita. A young prince and his wife, theirs was the love of a lifetime. They were happy, content models of how husband and wife should love and how they should honour their parents. But along came Ravana, a wicked, cruel, power hungry beast. He kidnapped Sita and forced her away --against her will-- to his palace. Rama has lost the “light of his life”. But eventually, with the help of the Monkey God, he overcomes all obstacles and gets her back. (Unfortunately, the story doesn’t have a particularly happy ending.) The story emphasizes the importance of the Hindu value of duty. But it also reminds us, as Halloween does, that there are bad spirits that frighten us and could snatch us away. But perseverance, bravery, and the help of others (including the Gods) conquers the bad guy.
The same can be said for the story of Hannukkah. Bad guys take over the Temple, but perseverance, bravery, and the help of others (including God) conquers the bad guys.

Diwali also celebrates the hope that the New Year, which begins the day after, will be a welcome one. The second story is of the beautiful Goddess Lakshmi. Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity, was temporarily expelled from God Indra’s court. In disguise, she wandered in the complete darkness of night with no moon, stars or house lights to guide her. Finally, afar in the distance, she saw a tiny light in a hut. She knocked on the door and was welcomed warmly by the family that lived there. Even though they didn't know who she was, she was shown such hospitality that as thanks she blessed the family and made them wealthy. So Diwali celebrates the welcoming of the spirit of God into each and every household for the New Year.

There is a biblical story of God approaching the home of Abraham in disguise and being welcomed into his home. The value of hospitality, of treating others as if they may be a God – or Goddess – incarnate, even if they’re looking like a beggar is a shared idea.

Isn't it fascinating that the holiday -- while so different on the outside -- has such similar themes on the inside to Halloween, Hanukkah and Christmas? Because these holidays also celebrate good forces conquering evil forces and use the light to keep back the dark. Hanukkah honours those little guys who managed to overthrow the big, bad army and by doing so saved their religious traditions. Christmas recognizes that even a tiny little baby, born against great odds, can grow up to save his people. All souls Day/Day of the Dead which happens the day after Halloween, Christmas and Hanukkah all involve cleaning up and celebrating with family and friends. Like Diwali we shall light our pumpkins, our menorahs or our Christmas trees and sit safely in their glow graced by their beauty, hope, and promise.

As we begin to shiver from cold, as the light fades more quickly from the glumly grey sky, as we face the reality that all life has seemingly left the natural world and as we begin to feel overwhelmed by the powers beyond our control (whether they be work or weather) -- it is now that we really need the reminder that there is meaning in life, there will be a vanquishing of evil, there is a welcoming light ‘at the end of the tunnel’, light and life will return and there is holy wisdom. Against great odds: Rama does get Sita back, Lakshmi does find a light in the forest, the boogey man doesn’t get us, the Maccabees do regain their temple and their ways, the baby Jesus is born safe and sound, and we will see Spring, warmth and long languorous days again!

So here's to the lights of Diwali, Halloween, Hannukah and Christmas. Here's to their promise and their hope and their reason's for celebration!