November 3, 2013

Diwali's promise to you

Most Hindus celebrate Diwali today, November 3rd. But many will celebrate it at other times during a span of some two months. Trinidad began their Diwali Nagar festivities back in October and, in past years, Diwali festivals and celebrations happened well into December.

And Diwali is but a door opener onto more holidays: Skanda Shasthi (Nov. 3-7), Tiruvembhavai (Dec. 17, celebrating Siva Nataraja), various Ganesha festivals, including the all-important Pancha-Ganapati (December 21-25) and the entire lunar month of Margali (Dec. 16 thru Jan. 14.)

Diwali is the perfect pan-Hindu holiday wherein all denominations rejoice. And these last two months of the year are also a time when people of other faiths endeavor bring forward all the joy they can. Diwali is a great moment in the world's calendar.

Diwali celebrates the promise of victory of light over darkness. Hindu scriptures and sages literally promise that, for each and every soul, all of life's dark things will eventually be replaced by light, fulfillment and satisfaction. This is the way it's going to be, they say. So we do have reason to celebrate.

We wish all of you a very happy Diwali and lots and lots of bright light in your life.

But one word of caution: sugar is turning out to be quite a vilain, not good for us at all. Please do all you can to minimize. One alternative is to turn to stevia, a natural and healthy sweet plant extract that contains no sugar. It has been used in South America for millenia. Look it up on the web as well as stevia recipes. You might like to try one or two this year and see what you think.

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Himalayan Academy
Kauai’s Hindu Monastery
107 Kaholalele Rd
Kapaa, HI 96746 USA 888-464-1008 • cell: 808-634-5407 • email