hindu fest

[Guest guest]

Most Hindu temples generally will have a big feast during the weekend.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Temple in Milpitas

(http://www.swaminarayan.org/globalnetwork/america/sanjose.htm

<http://www.swaminarayan.org/globalnetwork/america/sanjose.htm> ) has

special events this weekend to celebrate. The vegetarian food made by

this sect of Hindus is considered among the finest and while they use

dairy in some products, they do not use eggs or meat. They will have

many vegan options and have promised to serve special vegan items for

those who are vegan.

 

 

 

The food they serve is from Gujarat, the westernmost state of India and

is different than you might experience in Indian restaurants. They have

no intention of proselytizing, so no worries for anyone who is or is not

religious or spiritual, or who has their own path. However, they would

appreciate that visitors take interest in the significance of the

festival of Diwali rather than focus exclusively on the food.

 

 

 

The options for this weekend are: 1) This Saturday with arrival at the

temple around 530pm (from 6pm-7pm, there will be a major religious

ceremony with traditional Indian music and singing as well), 2) This

Sunday is a better option than Saturday according to the Temple

President as there will be a lot more food, color, and interesting

things going. There will be close to 1,000 food items. Come by 530pm for

dinner around 630pm. Leave 15 minutes for parking as the temple lot will

likely be full and you will need to park on the street or other

designated spots. If you cannot make either time, you may still visit

the temple (visit their website for information) on your own (guests are

welcome) but you may not get the feast (depending on when you go).

 

 

 

At around 6pm on both days, there will be an aarti, a traditional Hindu

ceremony with singing, wick lamp, and instruments. I recommend staying

for a little bit of the program because it is quite colorful and musical

and perhaps interesting to many of you, and coming early gives enough

time to find our contact person and find a seat among the thousands that

will be there.

 

 

 

Here is some info on the festival of Diwali: October 21 is Deepavali

(Diwali) and is one of the most important days of the year for followers

of religious and spiritual traditions from India. Information on this

important festival can be viewed at

 

http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/campaigns_deepavali2006_haf_messa\

ge.htm

<http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/campaigns_deepavali2006_haf_mess\

age.htm>

 

 

 

Diwali, or Deepavali in the original Sanskrit, is considered the

Festival of Lights, referring to the rows of earthen lamps celebrants

place around their homes. Hindus believe that the light from these

lamps illumines individuals and societies burdened by ignorance and

darkness. In addition to its symbolic significance, many Hindus believe

that Diwali marks the day that an incarnation of God, Lord Rama returned

from a forced exile after defeating the ultimate force of evil in His

time. The festival is celebrated over five days in varied ways

throughout India and also marks the end of the Hindu calendar year for

many.

 

 

 

In addition to the spiritual significance the day holds for Hindus, it

is also important to Sikhs and Jains. Sikhs celebrate Diwali in

commemoration of the release of the Sixth Guru, Hargobind, from

captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir. Jains commemorate Diwali as

the day Lord Mahavira, the last of the great teachers, attained

spiritual liberation after his death in 527 BCE., and light lamps as

symbols of the light of knowledge that he lit for humanity. If you are

interested, also consider visiting the magnificent Jain temple

(http://jcnc.org/ <http://jcnc.org/> ) that is around the corner from

the BAPS temple and has great marble icons and stone architecture. One

of the main teachings of Jainism is ahimsa, or the concept of

non-violence, so vegetarianism is integral to Jainism.

 

 

As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances,

there's a twilight where everything remains seemingly unchanged, and it is in

such twilight that we must be aware of change in the air, however slight, lest

we become unwitting victims of the darkness.

William O. Douglas