CITIZENS and residents across Bahrain will be coming together tomorrow to commemorate the main day of Diwali with get-togethers, feasts and communal prayers.
During the festival of lights, which is observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, diyas (earthen oil lamps), candles and lanterns are lit, most prominently seen around the 200-year-old Shreenathji Shree Krishna Temple in Manama.
In addition, Indian families, some of whom have been here for the last century and longer, will also be hosting gatherings for their friends, family and loved ones to mark the occasion.
“I remember celebrating Diwali in Bahrain since I was a little child, and since 2014, we have been honoured to have either Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, or one of his sons visit our family’s get-together to convey the Royal Family’s greetings every year,” Kewalram and Sons managing director and scion of the prominent Kewalram family Kishore Kewalram told the GDN.
“On Sunday, we will be having our family’s annual gathering, where our Bahraini friends, business leaders and government officials, in addition to other Indian families, have been invited.
“All the prominent families have been having such get-togethers throughout the last few days, with events marking the festival expected to continue for another one to two weeks.
“Our common gathering will take place on November 13 at the Shree Krishna Temple, where prasad will be prepared by the priest and served to visitors.”
Prasad is the devotional food offering made to gods and later shared amongst attendees during Hindu festivals.
The Shree Krishna Temple will also be having a special Diwali ‘deepotsav’ – lighting of the lamps – tomorrow evening from 6.15pm to 8pm, with the aarti (prayer) taking place at 6.45pm.
This will be followed by the Shree Govardhan Puja – a regional ritual held the day after Diwali to mark the child form of Lord Krishna – on Monday at 11am.
On Monday at 6.15pm, the temple will be offering Annakut Darshan – a ritual during which a mountain of vegetarian food is offered in gratitude for the past year, and to seek blessings for the year to come.
“Diwali symbolises the victory of good over evil, and the day holds great significance in the Hindu calendar,” the temple’s honorary secretary Mahendra Bhatia told the GDN.
“In our temple, we celebrate it in the traditional way by lighting ‘diyas’ and performing prayers. The temple premises are lit up with rope lights and present an extremely welcoming ambience to the numerous devotees who throng the premises for darshans on this auspicious day.
“A photoshoot Diwali backdrop is placed for the devotees to take pictures and mark the moment.
“The day after Diwali, which is November 13, the Temple Managing Committee has arranged a Brahmin Bhojan (feast for Brahmins), where we are expecting a good turnout.
“We will also be holding a cultural programme for our Bhatia community, where the community children will receive gifts and prizes for academic excellence, seniors will be felicitated and the event will be followed by prasad (dinner) on the premises.”
Other communities will also be marking the occasion with more intimate family gatherings as well as special prayers.
The Sikh Gurdwara in Salmabad is also holding a special Diwali prayer tomorrow, starting 6pm.
Members of the Nepali community will be hosting family gatherings to mark the occasion as well. Better known as Tihar festival amongst the community, the five days of the festival include celebration and worship of the four creatures associated with the Hindu god of death Yama, with the final day reserved for people themselves.
It is the second biggest Nepali festival, and is usually allocated a three-day-long national holiday in their home country.
“Dashain or Dussehra is our biggest celebration, which we marked just recently on October 24, so most of our celebrations for Diwali or Tihar will be within our homes, although I will be attending a few get-togethers that the Indian community has invited us to,” Nepali Ambassador Tirtha Raj Wagle explained.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
More info by GDN Media’s AI intern, Dana speaks
Dana Speaks, GDN Media’s AI intern
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Hindu festival celebrated across India and various other countries. It usually falls between October and November and lasts for five days. Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
The festival holds various religious and cultural meanings. The most common mythological significance of Diwali is the return of Lord Rama, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, to the city of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and victory over the demon king Ravana.
The people of Ayodhya illuminated the entire city with lamps, thus starting the tradition of lighting diyas (oil lamps) during festivals.
People decorate their homes, exchange gifts, and wear new clothes. They also burst fireworks and light up their houses with ‘diyas’ and decorative lights.
The festival is a time for families to come together, perform prayers, and offer sweets and delicacies to deities. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, visits homes that are clean, well-lit, and welcoming during Diwali.
Apart from the religious aspect, Diwali also holds cultural significance. It is a time when people indulge in delicious sweets and savouries, visit friends and relatives, and engage in festive activities like playing games, dancing, and singing. Diwali is also a time for shopping, as people buy new clothes, jewellery, and household items.
Moreover, Diwali is not limited to Hindus only. People from different religions and communities also celebrate this festival, promoting unity and harmony among diverse cultures.
It is a vibrant and joyous festival that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
It brings people together, spreads happiness, and instils a sense of hope and positivity in the hearts of millions.
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