CANTON − Billions of the world’s Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists this month are celebrating Diwali, a five-day Festival of Lights.

A joyous vacation, Diwali, is India’s largest and most essential religious vacation of the yr, commemorating the triumph of religious mild over darkness.

It’s marked by gift-giving, feasting and lighting fireworks, lamps and different lights.

Diwali comes from the Sanskrit phrase “dipavali,” that means “row of lights.” Celebrants place the lights exterior their houses to represent the inside mild that protects from religious darkness. 

Locally, greater than 300 folks dressed of their finest vacation finery attended this yr’s Diwali pageant hosted by theIndia Association of Greater Canton at McKinley High School’s Timken Career Center.

The occasion showcased Indian music, regional dances representing numerous states in India, and Indian delicacies.

“Diwali is our Christmas,” stated Shashi Gupta, a Chess Club adviser at McKinley.

Gupta stated the primary native Diwali celebration occurred in 1974, and concerned simply 10 households.

Aniket Parekh, one of many pageant’s organizers, stated Diwali, which takes place within the fall, is predicated on the Hindu lunar calendar.

The roots of the vacation fluctuate, relying on the area and faith of those that observe it. Hindus, for example, mild lamps on Diwali on the night time of the brand new moon as an invite to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, fortune, energy, magnificence and fertility.

However, the central theme of sunshine triumphing over darkness is constant.

Parekh famous that Jackson Township has the very best focus of native Indian households, estimating that not less than 100 name the township residence.

Nationally, there are 5 million Indians residing within the United States, in keeping with the 2019 Census.

The Pew Research Center studies that 85% of Indians all over the world have a good time Diwali. That consists of the overwhelming majority of Jains (98%), Hindus (95%) and Sikhs (90%), in addition to most Buddhists (79%) and huge minorities of Christians (31%) and Muslims (20%).

Visit the India Association of Greater Canton on Facebook.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP