Messages for Diwali – the festival of lights

Don’t light one lamp, light a thousand

This festival of light celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali is a symbol of hope for humankind and commemoration of the light of wisdom in our lives.

Every human being has some good qualities and every lamp that you light is symbolic of this. 

Some people have forbearance, some have love, strength, generosity, while others have the ability to unite people. 

The latent values in you are like a lamp. Don’t be satisfied with lighting just one lamp; light a thousand!

As you and your family gratify in celebrations, let us be conscious of the fact that we are still in a pandemic which is far from over. 

We humbly appeal to all celebrating to do this with caution and practice the Covid-19 protocols during this time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all patients in hospital.

It is estimated that one-fifth of disappearances of animals who are companions to humans are due to very loud sounds, mainly fireworks. 

Many urban animals suffer negative symptoms from the explosion of fireworks each year. Let us be considerate of this fact and use fireworks displaying more colour rather than loud sounds.

Whilst spending this auspicious period with your loved ones, let us spare a thought for all families who have lost their loved ones this year and the individuals who have lost their jobs due to this pandemic. 

Let us lend a helping hand where we can in order to light up the lives of the disadvantaged in our communities.

On behalf of the Hibiscus Coast Navaratri Committee, here’s wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and safe Diwali 2020. 

May the supreme light illumine your minds, enlighten your hearts and strengthen the human bonds in your homes and our community.

Brighten the future with love and happiness

Diwali or Deepavali meaning a row of lights brings along an air of freedom, festivity and friendliness everywhere.

It instils charity in the hearts of people. In a happy mood of rejoicing, people move about freely, mixing with one another without any reserve, all enmity being forgotten, embracing one another with love and united. 

We must allow our minds to be influenced by the teachings of Diwali thereby removing all darkness from the past, and brightening up the future with love, happiness and a strong will, looking forward to tomorrow. 

“Every act of caring, every act of giving without thought of reward is love in action.” Humility and sweetness of speech are the ornaments of man.

Let us walk together, let our minds be united, let our hearts be in agreement ….together we stand united as we light up our row of diyas and pray for a Covid-19 free world and give us strength to assist our community to brighten every home with love and happiness…..the fragrance of the flower is never borne…against the breeze, but the fragrance of human virtues diffuse itself everywhere.

On behalf of the Shree Hanuman Sanathan Dharma Sabha Mandir we wish that you attain perfect inner illumination. 

May the supreme light of lights enlighten your understanding. May you attain the inexhaustible spiritual wealth of the eternal, all pervading self. 

May you and your family prosper gloriously on the material as well as on the spiritual. 

Instead of lighting up the skies with huge bangs, let us light up our homes with rows of ghee lamps and engage in devotional prayer, satsangh and hawan to remove all negativities around us and the Covid-19 pandemic throughout the world.

Let’s also respect our pets and keep them safe from fireworks.

Let’s make a difference this Diwali, stay safe, be safe, save lives, obey all rules and be alert and vigilant.

A Diwali hawan will take place at the mandir on Saturday, November 14 at 9am.

Celebration of good over evil

The Shree Mariaamman Temple wishes all Hindus a blessed and peaceful Diwali.

The Covid-19 pandemic has taught the world gratitude and appreciation of life. 

People need God and prayers to survive nature’s wrath. 

Diwali which is the celebration of good over evil- story of Lord Rama (Lord Vishnu) and Mother Sita (Mahalutchmee) challenges the evil Ravana of Lanka.

Covid-19 has produced its own evil challenges for human kind. 

It is for this reason that we need to be grateful and thankful to the divine for being the light at the end of the tunnel.

Diwali as the festival of lights is the victory of light (good) over darkness (evil). 

This ancient Hindu festival on the darkest new moon night of the Hindu lunar-solar calendar month of Kartik heralds the triumph/victory over Ravana’s evil attributes – chaos and disorder, disunity, materialism, destruction, ego-centric habits, lust, greed, lack of integrity, honesty and total disregard for nature and the peace and harmony that goes with it.

This ‘Ravana mentality’ or evil seems to resonate in our present material society.

Covid-19 has greatly impacted on society by bringing the world to a standstill.

While nature healed itself, families were forced to heal too by remaining together, rekindling old traditional values of preservation and prayers, bonding, taking care and precautions for safety of all (observing lockdown rules).

And above all, following the golden rule of life which all cultures were compelled to teach in the home before formal education was introduced.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. This is exactly what happens on Diwali in a traditional Hindu home (homes are thoroughly cleaned, families bond, meals are prepared in the home only and prayers and respect to the Nature Goddess is prioritised and then followed by lighting of lamps).

It is therefore appropriate that Diwali this year be celebrated in great grandeur in honouring the Gods and Goddesses with much appreciation and gratitude since the lighting of the lamps this year above all other years is indeed the light at the end of the tunnel.

Become the light and lead the way

It is a known fact that Diwali-Deepavali symbolises light over darkness and good over evil. 

May the light of truth illuminate the world, may the light that we celebrate at Diwali show us the way and lead us together on the path of peace and social harmony.

The Diwali diya (clay lamp) must be the light, don’t look for the light to show the way, become the light and lead the way.

Mankind is being drowned in Western values and slipping away from the spiritual path which is the key to success.

We appreciate and admire the advancement of technology which must be used to our advantage, however, we must not lose track of our roots and family value systems which has stood the test of time.

Despite all hardships, obstacles and difficulties our dear forefathers and mothers maintained, preserved and treasured our rich culture, tradition and religion.

The message of Diwali is loud and clear to us, to gain success one does not have to go to great lengths, just be truthful, humble, dedicated and justified in your daily actions.

After all, service to humanity is service to God.

Due to Covid-19, fireworks will be limited and there will be less family visiting with gifts this Diwali.

The day also marks prayer to Mother Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, the giver of not only wealth but light as well.

The trustees, members and devotees of Shree Raam Narayan Temple Society incorporating the Port Shepstone and District Sanathan Dharam Sabha wish all a very happy Diwali-Deepavali 2020.

Celebrating the festival of lights

It is once again that time of the year when Hindus throughout the world celebrate the joyous festival of Diwali.

“Diwali” refers to a “row of lights” which each Hindu household proudly displays by rows of brightly lit clay oil lamps. It is for this reason that Diwali is also popularly known as the “Festival of Lights.”

Its significance lies in the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and a spiritual victory of knowledge over ignorance. 

It is also associated with the Hindu deity Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity with many other beliefs, stories or myths related to “ Rama and Sita.” It is believed that the lighting of those clay oil lamps invite goddess Lakshmi into their homes.

It is a day when Hindus celebrate the occasion with much happiness and also spread cheer to others.

Whilst the lighting of fireworks and colourful displays is a tradition of Diwali, one should also be mindful of its effect on animals and pets. 

In keeping with the theme of overcoming darkness with light, one should also consider the burden of the less fortunate during this joyous period.

In this regard, the members of the Andhra Sabha have once again provided some food hampers to some deserving families. This was made possible by some generous donors.

Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, enjoy this celebration with caution, care and responsibly. Wishing all who are celebrating a very Happy Diwali.

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