Diwali

I grew up in a church tradition that didn't celebrate holy/religious days all that much. We never followed the annual calendar that many churches do, so seasonal church rituals and traditions were something new to me completely when I started to notice what other groups were up to.

But there's something to be said for life following seasons, times and rhythm. It makes you more aware of where you're at, helps you notice your surroundings or celebrate certain aspects of existance - religious or otherwise. Take the season changes, as a broad example. I've mentioned before how we seem to live seasonless in this modern age - where before our every essence was tied to how the world around us functioned and turned. The same can be said for our spiritual side.

And today many are celebrating Diwali (Deepavali/Divali - the name does seem to vary). If you've never investigated Indian Hindu tradition, you may not know much about it - and I've had to do some Googling myself... :-)

It's known as the Festival of Lights and is held every year on a night in October when no moon rises - a dark night. Traditionally people fill their homes with light in response, driving darkness out of every corner and celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, good over bad, righteousness over spiritual darkness. It's a chance to make things over new - from a spotlessly-clean house to invite wealth, to new clothing and eating utensils. A recent online news item reported that plastic surgery is very much in vogue these days too, another way of making new. It's a time to give gifts and spend time together. A start of a new financial year.

To me, Diwali sounds like quite a fantastic celebration! Hindu, I am not - yet isn't the triumph of good in our lives something worth celebrating? In whatever form it comes, light and happiness and renewal is something we all need.

Perhaps more of us could be taking a leaf out of the books of other cultures, other traditions, other spiritual perspectives, and finding those things we can celebrate and remember together? Yes, that's a thoroughly postmodern way of doing things... :-) Taking bits from many beliefs and creating your own set of perceptions about the world and the Powers that influence it, celebrating and honouring across culture and creed.

In that spirit though, happy Diwali!