Community Corner

Canton Celebrates Diwali

The five-day Hindu festival of lights began Nov. 13.

The most common aspect of Diwali celebrations around the world are the lamps. The literal meaning of Diwali in Sanskrit is "row of lamps.”

The most popular tradition of Diwali is filling little clay lamps with oil and decorating homes with rows of lamps that are kept burning all night long, according to Sharbari Maitra Joshi. In its true essence, Diwali signifies the victory of Goodness over Evil, Light over Darkness and Knowledge over Ignorance.

"Back home we have these lamps made of mud," said Chetna Gopinath, 25, of Ann Arbor. 

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In addition to lighting the lamps, she said, families and friends will exchange gifts.

"I really like lighting the diyas [lights]," said Nisha Nagarsheth, 24, of Ann Arbor. "Also the idea of soul consciousness."

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She said it's a time of meeting with others and exchanging sweets.

The Hindu Temple of Canton gave out sweets to the throng of worshippers who came out Tuesday night for the Diwali celebrations. Prakash Patel, of Brownstown, and Chirag Shah, of Southland, volunteered to arrange the dishes of ladoo -- sweet flour balls, halwa -- a dense, sweet confection, and mango lassi -- a yogurt based drink, for the guests. 

Harshini Mhatre, of Westland, who attended the Diwali celebrations with her family, said each day of the festival is different.

"Diwali is actually an auspicious day," she said. "We light the candles, we worship God and we go to each other's houses."

Hundreds of people in their most colorful and glittery clothes gathered at the Temple for puja, or prayer, and to hear and participate in chanting from the priests. At the end, they took turns saying prayers to gods with trays of lit lamps.

Read more about Diwali on Patch.


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