With an estimated population of 1.2 billion people, India is the second most populous country in the world and, with a government modeled after the British parliamentary system, the world's largest democracy. It is also the birthplace of three of the world's major religions - Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism - all of which celebrate Diwali, the annual festival of lights and India's biggest and most significant celebration.
"There are two aspects of Diwali," said Avtar Gidda, the secretary of the Squamish Sikh Society. "One is the religious aspect and one is the historical."
The historical aspect of Diwali is celebrated for different reasons in each religion. For Hindus, it marks the safe return of Rama, the lord of virtue, believed to have lived around 5000 BC, after rescuing his wife from the demon-king Ravana. For the Jains, it commemorates the attainment of nirvana by the Indian sage Mahvira in 527 BC. And for the Sikhs, Diwali celebrates the release of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, from prison in 1619.
Each occasion was marked by the lighting of small clay oil lamps called divas and the tradition has been carried down to this day. Modern-day Diwali celebrations in India now include spectacular displays of firecrackers and fireworks all night long. Closer to home, in Vancouver and Surrey, neighbourhood streets are blocked off for the festivities.
"The religious aspect of Diwali is, knowledge conquers the darkness," Gidda said. "It is the time of lighting, because mind is supposed to be enlightened with truthfulness, when virtue takes over vice, equality takes over depression, humanity takes over Satan."
In the Sikh religion, much importance is placed on Diwali, said Gidda, because the release of their sixth guru - which occurred on the same day as the Hindus' ancient tradition - was the result of 10 years of peaceful demonstrations by the Sikh people. The Muslim emperor who had imprisoned their guru was so impressed by the Sikhs' devotion that he also released 52 other Hindu princes at Guru Hargobind's request.
"It was a great day for Sikhism," said Gidda, noting that the Muslim emperor's decision to release the prisoners on Diwali was a conciliatory gesture toward both the Sikh and Hindu religions.
That's fitting, as the Sikh religion was actually founded out of an effort to bridge the gap between India's conflicting Hindu and Muslim populations at the turn of the 16th century. Today, it's one of the world's largest and fastest-growing religions and the Sikhs' holiest shrine, known as the Golden Temple in the city of Amritsar in India's Punjab state, has become a world-renowned tourist destination.
The Sikh population in Squamish - about 1,500 - is comprised of more than 400 families, Gidda said. Celebrations for Diwali will take place not only at people's homes, but at the Gurdwara, which translates to "guru's home," a building on 5th Avenue where candles and divas will be lit and members of the community will eat, sing and pray together.
"Through the religion, through the prayer, we can take over the stupidity, tyranny, or depression," Gidda said. "The object of this [festival] is to enlighten, to bring the light to the people - it is the occasion of light."
Diwali follows the lunar calendar and does not fall on the same date every year. This year's celebration at the Squamish Gurdwara will take place on Wednesdy (Oct. 26) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend to enjoy delicious vegetarian Indian cuisine in the downstairs cafeteria, and watch and listen in the temple upstairs, where a special "Jatha" group from Vancouver will perform traditional Sikh hymns. Tobacco or alcohol substances are not permitted inside, and everyone must remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering. The Gurdwara, located at 37947 5th Ave., also hosts regular celebrations on the first day of every lunar month and every full moon.
