Deepavali was celebrated at Shanthi Mandir on Sunday, November 3, 2013.
Deepavali (popularly also called Diwali) was celebrated at Shanthi Mandir with the community coming together for the festive occasion. The festival marks the victory of good over evil. The Sanskrit word “Deepavali” means “an array of lights” and signifies the illumination of the mind from the darkness of ignorance and egoism. On Diwali, the Goddess Lakshmi, a symbol of prosperity, is worshipped.
One of the Diwali stories is that it celebrates the defeat of the demon Narakaasur by Lord Krishna and his consort, Satyabhama. Another story is that Diwali celebrates the triumphant return of Lord Rama from exile, to claim his throne in Ayodhya.
At Shanthi Mandir the puja dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi was performed with great devotion and the 100+ devotees gathered for the celebration shared sweets and Prasad after the puja. It was a coming-together of the community – the young and the mature. Many new families with young children and scores of MU students used the auspicious occasion to play with sparklers outside in the Mandir parking lot. It was reminiscent of the warmth and comfort of a home away from home. All the children took some sparklers home to make the excitement of the evening last a little longer.
