CHINO HILLS: Diwali was celebrated with great enthusiasm at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chino Hills. Buzzing with joy and excitement, visitors were greeted with rangoli, a beautiful floor design made with colored rice and powder, as they entered the brightly glowing Mandir. Thereafter, visitors participated in chopda pujan, a special prayer ritual during which account books are purified and prayers are held for a prosperous New Year.
“Just as everyone experienced joy today, every day would be Diwali, if we rid ourselves of the ignorance that we are this body and if we believe ourselves to be atma,” said Pujya Sarvadarshan Swami explaining the spiritual significance of Diwali. “Diwali is a festival to be aware of the inner light of God, and once we understand this, we will experience joy in every moment of our lives,” he added.
Saturday, November 6 marked the culmination of weeks of planning and preparation, setting the stage for the most significant ritual of the Diwali events, ‘Annakut’. Annakut, which literally means ‘a mountain of food’, is traditionally offered to God to celebrate the beginning of the Hindu New Year. “The preparation begins very early in the morning for us,” explained Shirali Patel a BAPS volunteer. “The vegetarian food is traditionally arranged in tiers or steps in front of the Murtis of God. The sweets are placed nearest.
As the tiers descend, other foods such as vegetables, pulses and fried savories are arranged. A mound of cooked rice, symbolic of Mt. Govardhan, is placed in the center. Today over 900 food items have been offered to God.”
Devotees arrived early in the morning dressed in new shervanis and colorful saris to engage in darshan of the beautifully adorned deities in the Mandir. The atmosphere was filled with festivity and divinity as devotees greeted each other. The young touched the feet of the elders and sadhus, and got their blessings. The first arti (Hindu ritual) of the New Year was performed at 7:00 am followed by prayers for world peace and well-being.
“Diwali is my favorite festival because of the excitement that fills the air when the festival nears.” said Amruta Patel. “After coming to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chino Hills, I felt like I was back in India. I experienced my culture while getting a taste of fine Indian cuisine. Every person I met had an expression of warmth and happiness on their face. I truly felt at home.”
“Diwali is that time of year when family, friends and relatives get together and strengthen their bonds through various festivities. Being away from India should not cause a lapse in our traditions”, said Ravi Patel. “Preparations for the festivities begin months in advance. Devotees, young and old, sacrificed their time to help in creating decorations, preparing food, arranging for the Children’s Diwali Celebration, as well as setting up the stage for the most significant ritual of Diwali, the Annakut,” concluded, Ravi Patel.
Diwali is also a time when children look forward to the celebrations it brings. The Children’s Diwali celebration was held and proved to be as fun as it was educational. The children learned the history and origin of this festival, played a variety of exciting games, and were given an assortment of gifts and goodies.
This education and fun-filled event featured an exhibition that displayed the significance of each ritual associated with Diwali. Along with that, there were panels which promoted the health and environmental benefits of leading a vegetarian lifestyle, as well as the importance of conserving energy, water and other resources – through methods such as recycling.
Family unity and world peace were also emphasized in the exhibition, highlighting the need for unity within diversity and differences. A unique aspect of the exhibition was that it featured a panel on the site layout of the mandir premises. Guests were educated about the significance of different aspects of the mandir and their origins within the Hindu scriptures.
“This cultural experience was especially remarkable – featuring the Annakut with traditional Indian delicacies which were being offered to the murtis, as well as the cultural exhibition, which presented topics such as family unity as well as the rituals of Diwali in such creative manner – catering to a diverse audience,” said Priya Shah, a BAPS volunteer, of her experience of the event.
This year Pramukh Swami Maharaj celebrated Diwali and Annakut in Gondal, Gujarat, India. He blessed the devotees on the New Year day. “Everyone’s devotion could be seen today. If we develop Dharma and Bhakti in our hearts, God becomes pleased, and thus He graces us with His blessings.”
India Post News Service
