This year’s Diwali was special to the family as our newest granddaughter was visiting Deep River from Toronto first time after her arrival on this good earth . She was to celebrate her first Diwali & a New Year with the family.
Both her cousins (Sitara- 4+ year old and Sachin- 2+ year old) were excited to learn that Maya will be coming. The East Indian Community of the Renfrew County had a Diwali program organised for Saturday 5 November 2011 at Lions Hall in Chlak River, ON. Apart from spending quality time with the family at home in Deep River, Maya & her parents (Shannon & Sunir) also participated in the said Diwali program . Some 120 people (East Indians and their friends of other ethnic background) attended the program. It was a lovely and lively program – with delicious Indian food (catered by an Ottawa Restauranteur), dances by community children (on Bollywood songs), a magic show by a local magician (Steven Anthony) and at the end – Gujarati Gurba and Punjabi Bhangra dances joined by public.
During this program , Maya’s Bapuji (that is me) and Sitara & Sachin’s nana (that is me) gave a small talk on Diwali and recited a poem. The poem was written by one of my colleagues, Gerhard, on a Cyber Forum who ihas this excellent ability to craft poems on social issues.
Below is my speech as written for delivery at the Diwali function on Saturday 7 November, 2011 – which was delivered – of course with some ‘as-lib” modifications but by and large keeping it intact in content and substance.
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Speech
East Indian Community of Renfrew County – Diwali, 2011 Celebration- Saturday 5 November 2011 at Lions Hall, Chalk River,Ontario
Hi Everyone,
This year’s Diwali was on Wednesday 26 October. I would like to wish you all a Happy Diwali & a very successful New Year.
Those who do not know me, my name is Pravin Shah and my family and I are residents of Deep River since 1986. I am retired from employment since 2007. Since my retirement, we have been gifted with three (3) loving grandchildren – 2 here in Deep River and our newest one in Toronto.
Diwali is a time for rejoicing and renewal as we celebrate the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Diwali is an auspicious festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains all over the world with great enthusiasm and excitement. Diwali is also popularly known as ” The Festival Of Light ” .
The Hindus celebrate this festival to commemorate the homecoming of Lord Rama after 14 year-long exile and his victory over the mythological demon Ravana. The Sikhs observe Diwali to celebrate the release in 1619 of Guru Hargobind Ji. For Jains, this festival carries the essence of spiritual upliftment because it marks the achievement of Nirvana or Moksha by Lord Mahavira, the last Tirthankara.
Spectacular lights, firecrackers, irresistible traditional sweets and sending gifts to dear ones mark the celebration of Diwali.
On Diwali families gather together and share variety of food and sweets. It is also common to send Diwali greeting cards to family members, relatives and friends. Recently however it is becoming more popular to send Diwali eCards or Diwali SMS.
The Diwali also culminates to the Hindu New Year.
In Canada, we celebrate Diwali with gusto.
In the Renfrew County (our own area), Diwali represents more than merely a religious festival. It represents and is a tableau of Indian culture, brotherhood and warmth by all peoples (of different religions and background) who have migrated from India. This also include peoples who have migrated from other parts of the Indian sub-continent.
Diwali Festival is getting recognised by various national political and social leaderships in many Western countries including Canada – which helps to generate understanding and friendship between various communities.
Here in Canada, the 11th National Diwali Celebration was hosted on Thursday, October 20 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization across from the Parliament Hill . Prime Minister Harper expressed his happiness that Diwali celebration at the Parliament Hill has grown into a truly national event.
On Diwali day – in a video message, the President of the Unites States Barack Obama spoke on Diwali and wished to all those who observe this sacred holiday in US and around the world, Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak.
In United Kingdom , Speaking at a Diwali Party, at his official residence of 10 Downing Street , British Prime Minister David Cameron said that Diwali being the festival of a triumph of good over evil and also the death of a devil, perhaps there is some resonance in understanding that the recent death of Col Gaddafi of Libya is the victory of good over the evil in true Diwali sentiments. Cameron later said that of all the parties he hosted, his children found the Diwali party “by far the most exciting”.
In our Canadian context, the Diwali is celebrated during Autumn months , so I would like to recite a poem reflecting the Autumnal peace and our human spirit for resoluteness.
This poem is written by my friend Mr. Gerhard Fürst . Gerhard is born in Germany but got his education in US. He taught almost 38 years in US and many other countries. He has sent his greetings and best wishes for Diwali to all.
Shalom, Salaam, Shanti, Ahimsa….
The sun is shining,
but the air outside
is brisk, cold and fall-like.
Autumn has made its entrance.
The trees are showing off
their fall-fashionably colorful dream coats
Nature is splendid.
It amazes us every time.
Nature can also be daunting.
It can subdue us,
or it can elevate the spirit.
It is too nice to be inside;
so. let me attend to some
garden chores and duties to be done,
mowing the lawn,
collecting fallen leaves,
and while doing so,
thinking about the passage of time,
reflecting on life
and all of its seasons,
its surprises, its beauty,
its challenges,
even its adversity
which could subdue
and even destroy.
We need to be strong,
within and without.
We need to be resolute,
in order to carry on,
in order to survive,
God willing…
By His good grace…
Fall is also a season of harvest.
may the fruits of your labors
be plentiful!
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest granddaughter (3 Months old), Maya Jashoda Knights Shah, for her first visit to Deep River from Toronto to celebrate her first Diwali and New Year with her cousins Sitara and Sachin Mistry as well as with the family and the East Indian Community.
And to express our great happiness and joy, the family has decided to make a small contribution to the Deep River & District Hospital towards purchase of capital equipment..
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