SOUNDVIEW — The Bronx Borough President's Office will host its first ever Diwali celebration next week, despite the fact that the holiday itself officially occurred last month.
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the Hindu New Year and is meant to be a time for people to seek blessings from God for success, prosperity and happiness, according to Pandit Vishnu Sukul, leader of the Vishnu Mandir, where the celebration will take place.
"It’s a time when the entire community comes together to give gifts and to say thanks to God for everything that is happening," he said, "and also to pray for the community, pray for the society, pray for the country, for peace and love to prevail."
Although Diwali itself took place in November this year, scheduling conflicts prevented Diaz's office from holding its celebration until Dec. 16, according to Bharati Kemraj, a spokeswoman for Diaz's office and the daughter of Sukul.
Uma Mysorekar, president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, said she was a bit confused by why Diaz's office was holding its Diwali celebration so late but was still happy they were honoring the holiday.
"I think it’s better to have something than to not have anything at all," she said. " ... If you want to call that day a celebration of Diwali, it’s perfectly fine. It is nothing but bringing families together, children together, and if that is the theme, it will survive no matter when you celebrate it."
Sukul echoed these thoughts, stressing that the ideas behind Diwali do not need to be tied to one specific day.
"It can be celebrated anytime," he said. "Officially, the date was the 11th of November, but Diwali has to do with the festival of lights, the goddess named Laxmi, and Hindus worship her anytime, any day."
The festival gets its name from the row of clay lamps that Hindus light outside of their homes, symbolizing the inner light protecting them from spiritual darkness, and is mainly celebrated in The Bronx by the borough's Guyanese, Trinidadian, Surinamese and Indian populations, Sukul said.
It will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at 1216 Noble Ave. and features singing, dancing and words from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
“Diwali is a joyous festival involving lights [and] togetherness, and I am privileged to recognize the importance of this observance and of Hindus around the world, especially here in the borough,” Diaz said.
Sukul viewed Diaz hosting a Diwali celebration at his temple as a sign of respect to the borough's Hindu population, which he said is growing at a very quick pace.
He described them as a very respectful and loving group of people.
"We do what is right. We go with the laws. We respect every other culture," he said. "We have no hate for anyone. We see every culture of The Bronx as one family."
