Festival of Lights
Area's Hindus celebrate Diwali
By Hannah Northey
Lansing State Journal
OKEMOS - In celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, Chakradhar Pakala of Lansing watched girls in colorful saris dance to traditional Indian music Saturday at Okemos High School. Twelve girls wearing red and yellow saris stomped their feet and jingled bracelets and anklets. Thinking back on his childhood, Pakala remembered setting off firecrackers and attending temple for Diwali in Hyderabad, India, where his parents live.
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"It's like Christmas for us," Pakala said. "It's a time to celebrate the goddess of wealth and the new year." Pakala joined more than 900 people from the Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities of mid-Michigan to celebrated Saturday. Diwali, which means "rows of lighted lamps," is a five-day celebration of the beginning of the Hindu new year and the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, as well as Vishnu, the goddess of wealth and luster. On this day, it is common for many people to wear new clothes, share sweets and light firecrackers. The event, hosted by Bharatiya Temple of Lansing, is one of the more popular and eagerly awaited festivals of India, a time to celebrate life and strengthen relationships. "Diwali is the victory of light over darkness, of knowledge over ignorance," said Loki Naga of Okemos. "With knowledge, you have peace, and that's the ultimate goal." Performers held group prayers and choreographed dances, followed by a community dinner. Donations collected at the annual event will go toward the expansion of the Bharatiya Temple, estimated to cost $700,000. "We are attempting to raise half of the cost through donations," said Rajiv Das of Okemos, a member of the temple's board of trustees. The expansion will add classrooms, areas for worship, a library and a kitchen. Wearing a traditional metallic-blue sari, Leela Nair of Lansing attended the event with family and friends. "It's an opportunity to meet, rejoice and celebrate," Nair said. "We're keeping the tradition going." Contact Hannah Northey at 377-1052 or hnorthey@lsj.com.
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