The Diwali, also known as Dipawali, is India’s biggest and most important festival. It got its name from the row (vali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Hindus light outside their homes to portray the inner light that emanates from a person’s spiritual darkness. This colorful festival is celebrated by them just like we celebrate Christmas.
Also known as the Festival of Lights, it is closely associated with the Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of Vishnu, the Preserver. This is the time of the year when the entire country, wherever you go in India, is filled with bright, colorful lights and fireworks lighting up the evening sky. The streets are adorned with bright lanterns, clay lamps are placed outside homes, and building facades are decked with incandescent lamps, highlighting the victory of light over darkness.
This important Hindu festival is celebrated over five days. On the first day, Hindus clean their homes and shop for gold or silver, said to bring good fortune. The second day is spent decorating homes with clay lamps. Some even make colorful designs on their floors using sand or powder. The main day of the festival is the third day, when families gather to pray to Goddess Lakshmi, followed by a culinary feast.
The fourth day is considered the first day of the new year, when friends visit with gifts, wishing each other the best for the season. The last, or fifth, day is spent with relatives, further strengthening family bonds.
I have always been curious about how the local Indian community celebrates Diwali, so when an invitation came recently for such an event, I made it a point to be there. The Activity Area of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City was the venue, and it was filled to the rafters. The local Indian community came in full force, especially because there was a bazaar selling all kinds of Indian culinary specialties and attractive merchandise. I was tempted to try on some beautiful Indian-designed dress shirts, but unfortunately, they did not have my size.
The evening’s program started with the entire congregation praying to the image of Goddess Lakshmi displayed beside the stage. This was followed by speeches from the officers of the Indian Cultural Association Philippines, including my good friend, PHILTOA President Arjun Shroff, a long-time resident of the Philippines and owner of Shroff Travel.
There were very colorful dance presentations made by members of the Indian community, dressed to the hilt in their attractive costumes. In fact, I saw some of them before the program started, and they looked stunning in alluring variations of the sari. I couldn’t resist asking them to join me for a photo opportunity.
I have to admit that I don’t often crave Indian cuisine, although I do seek it out occasionally for a change of flavor. But at the bazaar, I couldn’t resist the Gulab Jamun being sold that evening. I just had to have my fill of it. This very popular Indian dessert is made of milk solids and cheese formed into balls, then fried and soaked in sweet syrup. A million calories, indeed, but well worth violating my doctor’s orders! I had to stop myself from ordering more.
It was a fun celebration of Diwali by the local Indian community. The bright colors that filled the venue certainly showcased a beautiful celebration of India’s most important festival. It made me think that surely, the celebrations in New Delhi, Mumbai, or Calcutta must have been a million times more enthralling. Maybe that’s where I should head next year.
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