San Antonio’s Celebration “Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights” Lit Up the Downtown Corridor This Past Weekend
This past weekend, the 15th annual Diwali Festival of Lights took place as thousands of lights filled the downtown corridor. The festival took place from 4:30pm – midnight and included art exhibits, a firework display, and ceremonial lighting of candles. The celebration is a longstanding collaboration between the City of San Antonio and South Asian nonprofit Anuja SA.
According to the Almanac website, Diwali (pronounced ‘de-val-ee’) a “festival of lights that celebrates the triumph of light over dark, good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment. The name comes from Sanksrit ‘dipavali’, meaning ‘row of lights.’ On the night of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps (called diyas), placing them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the dark night.”
In India, Diwali takes place over the course of five days and reaches the peak of its celebration on the third day. Similar to celebrations of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, the festivities are highlighted by family gatherings and community worship.
Writer Anuj Tiwari, in his 2023 article for the India Times, “Diwali 2023: When Is Diwali? All You Need To Know About The 5-day Festival”, writes, “The origins of Diwali can be traced back to ancient Hindu mythology. According to legend, Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, returned to his kingdom of Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. The people of Ayodhya welcomed Lord Rama by lighting diyas (earthen lamps) and decorating their houses with rangolis (colored patterns). This event is believed to have occurred on the day of Amavasya (new moon day) in the Hindu month of Kartik, which is why Diwali is celebrated during this time.”
Diwali is celebrated in most South Asian and Hindu communities such as India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the New York legislature was looking to pass a bill that would make Diwali a holiday. According to a 2023 report from The Times Of India, the New York Legislature held a hearing in June to see about passing a law that would make it a holiday. “After making history as the first Indian-American woman elected to New York State office, I was proud to lead the movement for Diwali to be a school holiday in New York City,” said Congresswoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-NY). “This year, we saw our entire state speak with one voice in support of recognizing Diwali and the South Asian community.… Together, we are showing that Diwali is an American holiday. To the over 4 million Americans who celebrate Diwali, your government sees you and hears you.”
Diwali is celebrated in diverse communities around the world. Be sure to check out several websites and other neighboring events still celebrating Diwali.
