Diwali celebrations make way for 'good energy' on Long Island
The Town of North Hempstead's third annual Diwali celebration is Oct. 29 at Clinton G. Martin Park in New Hyde Park. Credit: Joseph Neumayer
It may be the darkest night of the month, but in Hindu, Jain and Sikh homes around Long Island, the evening of Oct. 20 will be full of light.
It marks the third night of Diwali, a five-day annual celebration when Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and many Buddhists around the world celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil by lighting traditional lamps.
Celebrated on the darkest night of the month in the Hindu lunisolar calendar, the underlying Diwali story (also known as Deepawali) may change from region to region, but in Northern India, Diwali is a commemoration of the return of the deity Lord Rama to his home city of Ayodhya in Northern India after a 14-year exile during which Rama vanquished the evil king Ravana. Tradition holds that upon Rama's return, the citizens joyfully lit up every lamp in the city. In the south, Hindus celebrate Lord Krishna, who defeated the demon Naraka.
Regardless of origin story, the lighting of the lamps represents good winning over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is also a great unifier.
"I was born in Guyana, but I have been able to mingle, as I have been to India numerous times during Diwali," says Pandit Chandradeo Mohan, leader of Bhavani Shankara Mandir, a 500-family-strong Hindu temple community in Central Islip with members from the Caribbean, multiple South Asian countries, and even Fiji. "Every state has its own way of celebrating. The biggest challenge was to create common ground. We are like a little U.N."
The public — regardless of religious affiliation — is welcome to join celebrations at the mandir (temple) on Oct. 20, beginning with prayers at sundown and then lighting of lamps, music and food from 7 to 9 p.m.
For Hindus celebrating at home, Diwali is a time to prepare the house for new beginnings. The Sood family, of Farmingville, belong to Sri Kalyana Balaji Temple (formerly Hindu Temple and Cultural Center), in Centereach, but like many in the community, will be doing a deep cleaning — Diwali puja — at home in preparation.
"We clean because during Diwali we invite good energy into the home and into every room with the light," Shweta Sood, 45, says. "You will not have good energy flowing through if there is dirt in the way."
Once the cleaning is over, the family will pray together, and at sundown, light the diya — oil lamps. They will bring a diya to each room to transfer the good energy to every corner. Sood’s daughter, Ananya, 16 will be participating too, these days with a greater appreciation of her traditions. When she was in elementary school in Farmingville, she kept her family’s Diwali celebrations secret from her classmates. Not anymore.
"My perception of my culture has shifted over time," Ananya Sood, now a junior at Sachem East High School says.
I used to keep it to myself. I was embarrassed. I was already different from most of the other kids, and I didn’t want to be made fun of.
- Ananya Sood
Today, Sood says she proudly talks about her Hindu traditions to her friends from school. "Diwali has always been enjoyable to me, but now I have celebrated with friends, and that’s even more beautiful, because it is something they didn’t know about and it is beautiful and sacred and I get to share and teach it," she says. "It is like a transfer of culture and ideas."
The Town of North Hempstead hosts a free indoor event with a diya lighting, traditional Indian dance performances and food Credit: Joseph Neumayer
There is still time to share in Diwali. The Town of North Hempstead’s third annual Diwali celebration is Oct. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Clinton G. Martin Park in New Hyde Park. The free indoor event will include a diya lighting, traditional Indian dance performances and food. "We want to integrate everybody; it is for everyone," says deputy town clerk Nishi Sehgal. "North Hempstead is diverse and inclusive and everybody’s welcome." If you want a seat, you must RSVP (516-869-7625; 516-869-7644; sharmas@northhempstead.gov).
No matter which celebrations you attend, make sure to wear your finest. Diwali is a time to showcase our fanciest new clothes.
"Everybody dresses up," says Deepa Goyal, 55, of Oyster Bay Cove. Her home temple, Asa'Mai in Hicksville, has been celebrating community Diwali events since the beginning of the month. "When I was growing up, people didn’t spend so much money on clothes, but every Diwali, my parents would buy one new dress for us. Now it is much more. It’s like getting ready for an Indian wedding."
