Council plans Diwali puja

Prayer, food, gifts and strings of lights adorning houses are all part of the Hindu holiday Diwali.

Yesterday marked the actual day of Diwali. Also known as Deepavali, Diwali literally means "a row of lights." Its significance varies throughout India.

The Hindu Students Council organized the University's seventh annual celebration of Diwali scheduled for tomorrow.

"The lights signify knowledge. (They) remove the darkness of ignorance. There is also a significance of good over evil," said Sharada Kumar, president of Chimarya Missions in Ann Arbor.

The prayer ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. in the Stockwell Blue Lounge. The function will consist of a puja - a prayer/story that tells the story of Diwali and why it is celebrated - bhajans devotional songs accompanied by a drum, and prasad - blessed food.

The prayer, led by Kumar, will include the story of the death of a demon king who repented for his sins with his last breath and wished for people to try not to be evil. His death was declared an occasion of celebration in the name of good.

On Diwali, people also pray to the goddess of wealth and put lights on their houses to attract prosperity.

"We try to attract prosperity, but end up losing on the electric bill," Kumar said.

Diwali can be compared to the holiday season in the United States.

Children in India receive two weeks off of school, fiscal calendars restart and it is a time to start over, Kumar said.

The celebration marks the most auspicious event organized by the Hindu Student Council on campus. About 10 to 20 students will prepare the meal for an expected 400 people.

We will "ask for blessing from God, asking for blessing and prosperity throughout the new year," added Sumit Carnick, an LSA junior and member of the Hindu Student Council.

This event follows the tradition of Hindu storytelling, in which people gather to listen and watch a storyteller pass down an important part of their culture, Carnick said.

Along with the cultural history, cultural food will be served.

"Diwali is like Christmas; its a big family day," LSA sophomore Vasu Mahavisno said. Where there is family, there is food.

The meal includes Dahl, a type of gravy, naan, which is like pita bread and aloogobi, a mixture of vegetables. The meal will be completely vegetarian and eaten only after it has been blessed.

Mahavisno said he is preparing two trays of rice mixed with gee - a type of butter.

"It is fattening, but it tastes so good," Mahavisno said.

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