The Festival of Light is bringing diversity this year

Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, will be welcoming the diverse community of Windsor this year including Jains, Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians on Nov. 24.

The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over evil King Ravana more than 6000 years ago. Diwali has been celebrated in Windsor for more than 30 years and is not inhibited by religion or community, according to Paresh Pandya, priest at Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Windsor.

“Some of the other devotees participate from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. So our boundaries are not limited boundaries, it’s kind of an international boundary right now in Windsor,” said Pandya.

According to Hindu scriptures, Diwali signifies the spiritual victory of light over darkness and good over evil. India, which has 29 states, seven union territories, 23 languages and a population of 1.2 billion people, represents a wide diversity. Diwali is celebrated in almost all of these states by chanting prayers, burning crackers and exchanging gifts and sweets among households.

In Windsor, the festival is attended by hundreds of people and the same traditions are followed including cultural programs, idol worshiping, chanting prayers, burning crackers and sharing a holistic environment.

“On the actual Diwali day we do some kind of a spiritual activity, for example Laxmi Puja. Also people are coming over here to chant a devotional song. We run a multi-fed group in Windsor so we invite all the multi-fed group people,” said Paresh Pandya.

The cultural festival, attended by 1,500 devotees last year, is aiming to include international students this year who feel homesick for being so far away from their country, said Pandya.

“This year we are preparing for international students in Windsor. We are expecting 2,000 devotees and more and more international students are coming over here because of the homesickness…so they feel a homely atmosphere in the Windsor Temple,” said Pandya.

The local population has grown by 3,400 people this year, largely as a result of St. Clair College’s growing enrollment from other countries. This festival will be one more opportunity for new Windsorites to celebrate with the community.

The temple is also expecting volunteers from St. Clair College, University of Windsor and different high schools in the city to help with the community service during the festival.

“In Windsor I’ve planned to go to a temple. Because my family is not here, I will get someone else’s company to celebrate Diwali,” said Jaspreet Singh Gill, an international student at St. Clair College.

Preparation for the festival continues for almost a month and includes various fundraiser events to raise money for the costs incurred by the festival. This includes dinner service during the festival and various other cultural functions. People who donate more than $1,000 become a member of the temple and get a capsule carved with their name placed on the dome of the temple.