Browsing Tag: Diwali

When it comes to celebrating popular festivals like Divali or Christmas, the colourful and socially vibrant Sikhs are renowned for outdoing their neighbours. For them, relevance of such festivals to their religion is of little consequence. Divali is one such festival;

Bandi Chhor Divas is the day we celebrate the return of the Guru. When Guru Hargobind was imprisoned in Gwalior fort, the Sikhs longed to have his sight. The Sikhs felt lost without the Guru. How would they get inspiration and guide their minds on the right path? How long would they go until the Guru was finally released?

On behalf of all New Democrats I wish you all a happy celebration full of love, hope and optimism, for all those who are celebrating this holiday here and around the world.

Diwali is here and Ria and Raj are busy cooking up some mischief in the kitchen, but a big surprise is in store for everyone!

Though Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh had appreciated the spirit of Bhai Rajona’s letter reportedly told Times of India on October 26, 2013: “We would maintain the maryada”.

This year Diwali falls on Sunday, November 3. It has added meaning: we will celebrate the martyrs of 1984 with every lamp we light, with every fire-cracker in the sky, and every sweet we savour.

This year, the amazing holiday will be celebrated by me by being green, doing something for Diwali, and spreading the message to others about how I'm contributing.

My Diwali started early. By 6 a.m., I was plunging in the cold sarovar of the Harimandir Sahib. The sky was gray and the November fogs of Amritsar were beginning to disperse, making way for the hazy autumn sun.

Local residents of Southall came together to celebrate the Festival of Light. People gathered at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Guru Nanak Darbar & Guru Amardass in old part of Southall to offer their prayers and to light up candles.

Imagine: a prisoner giving conditions to the Emperor about his own conditions of release -- not for his own benefit, but for that of others. This is a poignant legacy that we Sikhs must reflect upon each year.

Diwali is one of the occasions when the multicultural identity of India finds its expressions.

Hundreds of candles lining the walkways and porch in front of Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanak Dwara in Phoenix, AZ, cast a warm glow upon delighted young faces. Little children carefully and reverently carry their very own candles to place before the Guru...

I lit the candles of knowledge in the dark night ~ So the darkness of ignorance may be dispelled Kindle the lamps of hope in every home ~ So all hearts be thrilled with festive joy

EcoSikh sent a formal appeal to Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib to mandate “One Candle One Family” for Sikhs who want to light candles at the Gurdwaras. EcoSikh survey revealed that majority of Sikh families light more than 50 candles in Gurdwaras during Diwali eve.

Last week the Coalition along with guests from the Sikh community participated enthusiastically in a White House Diwali Reception with President Barack Obama.

No. 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon David Cameron MP lit up with Diwali celebrations on Thursday 20th October 2011

While it is a Hindu and Sikh holy day, during which practitioners pray for blessings, Thakorlal says the best part for her is connecting with others. "Really for me it's the sense of community, the sense of family and the sense of belonging," she says,

I realize how important it is for all of us to celebrate our festivals and special occasions that mark our own traditions; it strengthens our roots. I offer that it is also enriching to spread out our branches and participate in the festivities and cultural events of other faiths. By sowing the seeds of understanding and honoring diverse traditions, we will perhaps make life on our shared planet a tad more harmonious.

“It will be on the stage on November 7 to give the audience a flavor of our culture and tradition and also to celebrate Diwali which is festival of joy, prosperity, good luck and a celebration of victory of good over evil.”