Not all Indians celebrate the joy of Deepavali

Non-Indians everywhere can be forgiven for thinking that all Indians celebrate Deepavali, the Festivals of Lights traditionally celebrated in mid-Autumn or mid-Oct to mid-Nov.

The truth is that only Indians who profess Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism partake in the joy of Deepavali.

Many “Indian” Buddhists, especially the Nepalis, celebrate Deepavali too but as Ashok Vijayadashami through the chanting of mantras remembering the Emperor Ashoka who converted to Buddhism on the day of the festival. Buddhist pagodas and monasteries are well-decorated at this time of the year but to worship the Buddha with full honours.

While Indians who profess Buddhism, like Sikhs and Jains, have reconciled themselves with the “essentially Hindu”, for want of a better term, Deepavali, it is not the case with Indians of other faiths like Christianity and Islam, to cite two major faiths among others.

The Vatican itself, in one take not too long ago, has been unable to find a way whereby Indians can be Christians and at the same time celebrate Deepavali as their very own festival.

Indeed, the phenomenal growth of Christianity over the last two centuries has largely been attributed to the Church’s ability to reconcile itself with local languages, culture, customs and traditions to a remarkable degree. But when it comes to Deepavali, the Church draws a clear line.

Battle of Good vs Evil

Yet for many, there’s no reason why Christian Indians and Muslim Indians can’t celebrate Deepavali, at least in part like the Buddhists. Deepavali, derived from the Sanskrit “Dipavali” -- “a row of lamps -- involves the lighting of small clay lamps to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Closer home, it can be likened within a contemporary context to the Sat 8, Mar 2008 General Election when the opposition alliance, the Pakatan Rakyat and Hindraf Makkal Sakthi triumphed over the “evil” Malaysian Indian Congress or MIC, which was virtually wiped out after over half a century of squatting on the Indian community in particular and Malaysians in general.

On Deepavali day, the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family, relatives, friends and neighbours.

The Church’s fear, however, is that the essential message of Christianity would be eventually lost in the all-consuming power of Hinduism if Christian Indians celebrate Deepavali, which revolves around several major themes spread over five days.

The 5 Days of Deepavali

Briefly, on the first day, the Indian business communities begin their financial year by worshipping the “owl” form of the Goddess Laxmi, or the Goddess of Wealth, in the belief that it will bring prosperity and well-being. This is the day when celebrants make customary purchases of precious metals.

The second day marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.

The third day goes back to Laxmi when the Goddess is worshipped in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. The day also relates to the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation, vanquished Bali, the King of the Demons, and banished him to the underworld from where he was allowed to visit his subjects once a year.

The fourth day of Deepavali commemorates Bali taking up the reins of his new kingdom in the underworld.

On the fifth day, sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

Reconciling Deepavali with Christianity and Islam

There are many other events associated with Deepavali.

Generally, while the story of Deepavali varies from region to region in India, the essential message is about rejoicing in the inner light (atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).

It appears that except for the first four days, the fifth day and the essential message of Deepavali on Atman, Brahman and the row of lights all don’t appear to conflict too much with Christianity, or Islam for that matter.

The Christian take on reality is that Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the human heart’s restless searching, that God’s only son is Jesus Christ, that Christ does not “speak in the name of God” like the prophets but that “he is God himself”.

There are some references in the Bible. An example is (John 1:1 8) which states: “No one has ever seen God: the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.”

Pope John Paul II once wrote in Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 6, a sermon, that Jesus is God himself speaking in His Eternal Word made flesh.

Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah” (Saviour) in the words: “I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am the Life. He who lives through me will never die.”

From this comes the message in Christianity that the salvation brought by Christ carries with it “the promise of Eternal Life as evident in the persecution, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension” when death was conquered.

Christ pledged that he would come again.

Islam sees itself as the religion brought by the Prophet Abraham and Mohamad is the Last Prophet.

Jesus is seen as the most important prophet in Islam which also preaches that Christ will come again.

The Christian/Jewish divide with Islam begins from the time that Prophet Mohamad taught that the religion brought by him is the same religion that the Prophet Abraham preached.

The division became permanent from the moment that Prophet Mohamad urged his followers to no longer face Jerusalem when reciting their obligatory prayers five times a day, but instead face Mecca henceforth “since the Jews and Christians have rejected Islam”.

Between Islam and Hinduism, it’s clear that the former frowns on images of any kind, and all these abound aplenty in the latter religion.

Again, as with Christianity, the fifth day of Deepavali and the essential message of Deepavali on Atman, Brahman and the row of lights all don’t appear to conflict too much with Islam.

Happy Deepavali, Deepavali ki Shubkamnayein (Hindi), Deepavali Aashamsagal (Malayalam), Deepavali Nalvaazhtukkal (Tamil), Deepavali Shubhakankshalu (Telugu), Subho Deepavalir Preeti O Subeccha (Bengali).

Malaysia Chronicle