Bright Deepawali vs. Dark Halloween - hybridized into Krishnaween

This year festival of light - Deepawali (Diwali) and the festival of darkness for departed souls - Halloween fall on the same day - October 31, 2024. We are prepared with chocolates for kids who will come begging in the Celtic-Irish tradition of 'Souling'.

Festival of Light Deepawali:

Diwali, also called Deepawali, means "row of lights" in Sanskrit. Deepa means ghee lamps and wali means a row.

• It's known as the "Festival of Lights" due to the practice of lighting oil lamps (diyas) and decorating homes with lights.

Multiple origins and celebrations: Different regions and religions in India celebrate Diwali for various reasons.

Lord Rama's victory and return:

• All over India, Diwali celebrates Bhagavan Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. People lit lamps to welcome Rama home after his 14-year exile. Now Ayodhya has a magnificent temple for Ram Lalla - or Rama in child form.

Krishna and Narakasura (aka Bhaumasura):

All over India, Diwali marks Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. This history symbolizes overcoming negativity and embracing new possibilities.

Spiritual significance:

• Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
• It has deep spiritual meaning in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and some Buddhist traditions.

Celebrations: The festival typically lasts five days, with the main celebration on the third day. Traditions include cleaning homes, lighting ghee lamps, creating rangoli decorations on floor, exchanging gifts, and feasting on Veggie foods and sweets.

Key features of Deepawali:

1. Known as the "Festival of Lights," celebrating brightness and illumination
2. Emphasizes themes of good triumphing over evil
3. Celebrated with bright oil lamps, candles, and colorful decorations
4. Rooted in Hindu mythology, often celebrating Rama's return or Krishna's victory
5. Focuses on welcoming prosperity, new beginnings, and positive energy

Halloween:

Halloween has a rich history that dates back thousands of years, with its origins rooted in ancient Celtic traditions. Here’s an overview of the background of Halloween:

1. Celtic Festival of Samhain: Halloween's origins can be traced to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "sow-in"), which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. This festival was celebrated on the night of October 31, when it was believed that the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest, allowing spirits to roam the earth.
2. Costumes and Bonfires: During Samhain, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off evil spirits. They believed that by disguising themselves, they could avoid being recognized by any malevolent entities.
3. Transition to Christianity: In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints' Day, a day to honor saints and martyrs. The evening before became known as All Hallows' Eve, eventually evolving into Halloween.
4. Traditions Evolving: Many of the customs associated with Halloween, such as wearing costumes and trick-or-treating, have evolved from earlier practices. For instance, during All Souls' Day on November 2, people would go door-to-door collecting food in exchange for prayers for the dead, a practice known as "souling."
5. Jack-o'-Lanterns: The tradition of carving Jack-o'-lanterns originated from an Irish legend about a man named Stingy Jack who tricked the Devil and was doomed to wander the earth with only a carved-out turnip to light his way. When Irish immigrants came to America, they began using pumpkins for this purpose due to their availability and ease of carving.
6. Modern Celebrations: By the late 19th century, Halloween had become popular in America, influenced by Irish and Scottish immigrants who brought their traditions with them. Over time, Halloween transformed into a community-centered holiday characterized by costumes, parades, and trick-or-treating.
7. Modern incarnation of Hallows day: The holiday has evolved into a highly commercialized event, especially in the United States, where it includes widespread celebrations featuring costumes, decorations, haunted attractions, and candy sales.

Key features of Halloween:

1. Associated with darkness, spirits, and the supernatural
2. Emphasizes scary or spooky themes
3. Celebrated with dimly lit jack-o'-lanterns and dark costumes
4. Rooted in Celtic beliefs about the blurring of lines between the living and dead
5. Focuses on warding off evil spirits and mischief

Key Differences between the two:

• Mood: Halloween tends to have a darker, more ominous atmosphere, while Diwali is joyous and bright
• Symbolism: Halloween uses darkness to represent the supernatural, while Diwali uses light to represent spiritual victory
• Purpose: Halloween traditionally aimed to ward off spirits, while Diwali aims to invite blessings and prosperity
• Cultural context: Halloween has evolved into a largely secular holiday in the West, while Diwali remains deeply tied to Hindu, Sikh, and Jain religious traditions

Krishnaween:

ISKCON Seattle Vedic Cultural Center created a hybrid of the two about 18 years ago. This is called "Krishnaween". People dress up like characters in Mahabharata - Krishna, Arjuna, Bhima, etc. and begs for sweets at the Hare Krishna temple.

Worshipping Lakshmi without Narayana on Deepawali:

Spiritual connection: Lakshmi is considered the eternal consort of Vishnu (Narayana). She is viewed as completely spiritual and an expansion of Narayana, similar to how Radha rani is an expansion of Krishna

Common modern Hindu practices:

• Many people worship only Lakshmi during Diwali, often without including Vishnu's image or deity
• This is usually done with the intention of gaining wealth rather than spiritual devotion.

Vedic Vaishnava Hindu perspective:

Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu) generally do not worship the energy of the Lord separate from the Lord himself. They typically worship Lakshmi and Vishnu together, not Lakshmi alone. This is the correct way of worshiping. Some devotees argue that worshipping Lakshmi on Diwali is acceptable for Vaishnavas if done with the aim of receiving blessings to advance in bhakti (devotional service)

Recommended approach:

• For those cultivating devotion to Krishna (a form of Vishnu), performing Lakshmi Puja solely for the sake of wealth is not recommended
• The suggestion is to worship Lakshmi with Narayana, keeping the spiritual aspect in mind.

Conclusion:

From a traditional Vedic Vaishnava Hindu perspective, worshipping Lakshmi without Narayana on Diwali is generally not considered the correct approach. The emphasis is on maintaining the spiritual connection between Lakshmi and Narayana, rather than focusing solely on material prosperity. Worshipping and attracting ghosts is not recommended on Halloween as they may have negative consequences down the road. In my neighborhood in Dallas, TX, many people are displaying 15-foot skeletons and decorated their front yard as a graveyard. God forbid ghosts don't come into the neighborhood seeing all these decorations.