Celebrate Diwali with Cupertino Rotary
Celebrate Diwali with Cupertino Rotary
On Wednesday November 7, 2018 at Quinlan Center as Cupertino Rotary celebrates the annual festival of Diwali. Diwali is a celebration that symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.” This wonderful program was chaired by Rotarian Savita Vaidhyanathan and Padma Chari. Savita was elected to the Cupertino City Council in 2014 and served as Mayor in 2017. Padma is coming president of Cupertino Rotary Club 2019. Diwali Celebration featured dances and gourmet Indian food. Rotarian dress up in their favorite Indian outfit to celebrate together.
About Diwali, or Dipawali: is India‘s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row(avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.
Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith: Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs.
Hindus interpret the Diwali story based upon where they live:
- In northern India they celebrate the story of King Rama’s return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.
- Southern India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.
- In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule the nether world.
In all interpretations, one common thread rings true—the festival marks the victory of good over evil..
