Lamps (Diyas) are lit during Diwali to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness or good over evil.
Satish Komal, Hindu Association of the Western Cape (HAWC) chairperson
Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists from all over the world will celebrate the glorious and colourful festival of lights called Diwali or Deepavali, meaning a row of lights, on Thursday October 31 and Friday November 1.
This most auspicious predominantly Hindu festival features prominently in the Hindu calendar worldwide and highlights the victory of good over bad, light over darkness and everything wholesome over that which is not.
Diwali is a time of deep and serious spiritual reflection, renewal and celebration, with a strong emphasis on non-violence (Ahimsa), which is a key value in the Hindu religion.
Many Hindus are vegetarians and those that are not observe a vegetarian diet and abstain from meat and alcohol, etc, during these religious festivals as a way to cultivate compassion. The majority of practising Hindus understand this.
We encourage businesses and other commercial concerns like restaurants to kindly be sensitive to these matters and respect the traditions of their Hindu customers during this time by ensuring that their advertising and promoting of their businesses, etc, does not hurt the cultural and religious sentiments of the Hindus that support them by advertising products and menus in the name of Diwali that are not permissible especially during Diwali.
This year we have seen a sharp increase in the number of persons, companies and associations nationally that have deliberately appropriated Diwali for purely commercial and other questionable reasons by marketing products/ foods against the values of Diwali, using this religious festival's name to sell their products with questionable motives. We strongly encourage these persons to desist from this practice.
On behalf of the Hindu Association of the Western Cape (HAWC), we extend our very best wishes to all celebrating and observing this most auspicious religious festival of Diwali.
May the external lighting of the lamps (Diyas) lead to internal illumination of the mind and thinking also, leading us all to a happier and more peaceful world.
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