Diwali, the festival of lights, is the best known of Hindu festivals in the United States. The legends connected to the festival are different for different religions. According to Ramayana, one of the most important epics of the Hindu religion, Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, from his 14-year exile after killing the demon king Ravana. Thus, it symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is celebrated with great fervor by one and all. The celebration includes visiting temples, performing Lakshmi puja, exchanging greetings, sharing sweets with loved ones, attending cultural and talent shows, musical concerts and social parties, besides lighting candles, earthen lamps and firecrackers where permissible. The annual observance demonstrates the rich history and traditions of the Hindu faith and provides an occasion for the followers to remember their many blessings and celebrate their hope for a brighter future.  

Diwali Celebration by Sikhs and Jains

Sikhs celebrate Diwali as it marks the return of the sixth Guru, Hargobind Rai to Amritsar after he was freed from the fort of Gwalior by Emperor Jahangir in October 1619, where he was imprisoned along with 52 Hindu Kings who were incarcerated as political prisoners. When the emperor decided to release the Guru, the latter managed to get all the Hindu kings freed at the same time. Guru Hargobind became known as the “Bandi Chhor” (Deliverer from prison) and the event is celebrated as the Bandi Chhor Divas. The Guru arrived at Amritsar on the Diwali day and the Harmandir (Golden Temple) was lit with hundreds of lamps to celebrate his return. Every year, the Golden Temple is illuminated in a spectacular display and fireworks are displayed to commemorate the memory of Guru’s return. Sikh temples across America hold religious gatherings to remember the legacy of their Guru who fought for social justice and got freedom for people who belonged to a different faith.

In Jainism, the occasion celebrates the attainment of Nirvana by Lord Mahavir, the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, on this day at Pavapuri on Oct. 15, 527 BC, on Chaturdashi of Kartika.

According to a Swetambara legend Mahavira took his seat on a diamond throne in the center of a magnificent hall on the seventh day of his stay. The seat was specially built for him on the borders of a lake. There were many devotees who came to hear him. According to their rank they arranged themselves into twelve grades. The devotees belonged to different sect, class and order. They ranged from king to beggar. On the dark night of the seventh day of his stay the hall was illumined by the supernatural glow of the Gods who came to listen to him. That day the Lord preached the whole night. He was aware by his sukladhyayana that his end was drawing near. He thus sat with his hands clasped knees crossed. At dawn he attained nirvana on the day of Kartika Krishna. Mahavira is said to have delivered the fifty-five lectures explaining the results of Karma and also recited the thirty-six unasked questions at the night of his nirvana.

In cities with significant Indian American population, Diwali Melas have become very popular and attract large gatherings of young and old. The organizers arrange for many fun-filled activities such as magic and puppet shows, henna painting on palms, stalls of Indian sweets and other eatables, handicrafts and other trinkets besides showcasing the best of Indian culture. If legally allowed, the effigies of Ravana, etc. are burnt to give historical perspective to the event and customary fireworks are displayed to add splendor to the festivities and increase public participation.

Diwali Celebration in New York and Dallas

New York chapter of Association of Indians in America (AIA) organizes probably the largest Diwali Mela outside India with an estimated attendance of over 100,000 people during the daylong event at the South Street Sea Port, Manhattan.  The association also arranges extravagant display of live fireworks illuminating the east river and New York city skyline.

Times Square, New York is a popular tourist destination.  In 2013, Diwali was celebrated there for the first time. Indian Americans from the tri-state area flocked in thousands to see the day-long extravaganza, showcasing Indian culture, cuisine, music and fashion.  Last year (2016), for about 8 hours, live performances, fashion shows, dance & music competitions, photography exhibition and other creative programs like rangoli painting provided huge attraction. At night, the skyline dazzled with fireworks. Nita Bhasin, president of ASB Communications, who has been organizing the event, also provided entertainment with live Indian dances and music.  

Dallas Indian Cultural Society, in 2007, organized Diwali Mela celebration of epic proportion at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.  The founder, Satish Gupta, prefers to call the celebration, “spirit of India” which attracts 40,000 to 50,000 people who get glimpses of the rich Indian culture at play, including the traditional staging of Ram Lila and burning of Ravana’s effigy. It was a mammoth event, unique with no parallel to it in the United States. The society has been organizing the Mela annually sometimes excelling their prior year performance by attracting more people and adding more attractions.

Diwali Celebration in American Universities

There are about 100,000 Indian students from India in various universities in America. A large number of Indian American students are also enrolled in American universities. Diwali celebration in Duke, Princeton, Howard, Rutgers, Carnegie Mellon and several other university campuses brings Indian student groups together and helps them stay connected with their culture and tradition.

Diwali at the White House

In 2003, the President George W. Bush agreed to the long-standing demand of the Indian community and celebrated Diwali at the White House in the presence of several invited Indian community leaders. Although the president never participated in the Diwali festivities, yet it became an annual tradition at the White House. The celebration of Diwali at the White House also shows the growing clout of the Indian American community in the United States. In 2009, Barack Obama became the first US president to light a “diya” oil lamp, in the presence of a Hindu priest, in a White House ceremony for the festival of lights. In communicating his warm greetings at the occasion, he remarked that Diwali marked the return of the Lord Ram from exile when small lamps lit his way home.  In 2010, the Vice President led the commemoration. In 2011, President Obama again lit the White House Diya while a Hindu priest chanted Slokas, or prayers. In 2016, lighting diya in the Oval Office of the White House, President Obama said, “On behalf of the entire Obama family, I wish you and your loved ones peace and happiness on this Diwali.”

Diwali Celebration by US Congress

The US Senate and the House of Representatives in October 2007 unanimously passed Resolutions 299 and 747 respectively, recognizing the “religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali.” The passage of the resolutions may be symbolic, but it is a testament to the increased awareness of the Indian community in America. The U.S. Congress celebrated Diwali, for the first time, on October 29, 2013, amidst chanting of Vedic mantras by a Hindu priest. Over two dozen influential lawmakers along with eminent Indian-Americans gathered at the Capitol Hill to lit the traditional “diyas”. The event was organized by the two Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Congressmen Joe Crowley and Peter Roskam in recognition of increasing presence of the Indian-American community.

US Postal Service Issues Diwali Postage Stamp

On October 5, 2016, the US Postal Service fulfilled the long standing demand of Indian Americans, and released Diwali Postage stamp commemorating the festival of Diwali. The dedication ceremony took place at the Consulate General of India, New York, in the presence of Consul General Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, Representative Carolyn Maloney, Diwali Stamp Project Chair Ranju Batra, US Postal Service Vice President for Mail Entry and Payment Technology Pritha Mehra, India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, now a minister in Modi cabinet and many members of the local Indian American community.

(The author regularly writes on Indian Diaspora. He is the author of The Gadar Heroics – life sketches of over 50 Gadar heroes. He is Executive Trustee of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Foundation. He was chairman of GOPIO from 2009-2016, president from 2004-2009, president of National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) from 1988-92 and chairman from 1992-96. He was founding president of Federation of Indian Associations in Southern California. He can be reached at indersingh-usa@hotmail.com)