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Make way, Goddess Lakshmi: Initiates the Festival of Lights!
Merry time: The Indian Womenâs Association celebrates Deepavali with a lunch party for its members
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span class="inline inline-center">Merry time: The Indian Women's Association celebrates Deepavali with a lunch party for its members. One of the members dances to a song.
It is Dhanteras, the first day of the festival of Deepavali, also spelled Diwali, the Festival of Light. As Hindus conduct their prayers for the initial day, preparations are also made to welcome the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi.
On Dhanteras, as the cloud of dusk seeps in, the diyas (oil lamps) and candles are lighted to illuminate the way to the entrance of the house. How else to welcome a goddess if not through an array of lights for her to find the way to our homes to bring in wealth through good health, finance and love? Two days after welcoming Goddess Lakshmi, Hindus celebrate Lord Ram and Sita's comeback after 14 years of exile.
In Jakarta, Indonesians from different ethnicities celebrated Deepavali through various mela (gatherings) and parties.
The India Club Jakarta celebrated massively with a Deepavali mela at the Pekan Raya Jakarta (PRJ) in Central Jakarta with a dance program and different cuisines from different states of India. The theme for this year was about folk cultures and traditions. The open air event at the PRJ was attended by members and guests who hail from various cities in India, but currently live in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Indians from another ethnic group called Sindhis, grouped under the Gandhi Memorial School Alumni, held a Deepavali mela at Hall C in PRJ. Dances, food, and lots of games entertained the public who attended. Children were the happiest at this event because the presents from the games were of good quality.
Ladies of the older generation took it easy by celebrating Deepavali through a lunch party. The Indian Women's Association organized a lunch and invited members and their guests to celebrate Deepavali together. Diwali Queens were chosen, a cake was cut and a Deepavali bingo was played.
This year everyone made an effort to support the success of their events. With a bustling city like Jakarta, keeping everyone on their toes, Deepavali events are opportunities to meet, mingle and rekindle the magic of a relationship. In a world of highly emotionless, wired, state-of-the-art technology, Deepavali celebrations are reminders of our existing humanity as a species that needs to feel love through a human touch.
' Text and photos by Aruna Harjani
