Incredible India! Diwali Evolves Into An Interfaith Celebration Across The Nation

How can we (Jews) stay away when we live in India? Diwali is a festival of love, brotherhood, and leading oneself from darkness to light: Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar

The festival of lights, Diwali, that is here and Muslims, Christians and Jews are gearing up to celebrate it with equal fervour. Although a major festival of the Hindus, it is celebrated by other faiths as well.

While Judaism is often associated with Israel, Jews residing in Mumbai, Kerala, Delhi, and other parts of India celebrate Diwali with great enthusiasm.

To commemorate the release from prison and return to Amritsar (in 1619) of their spiritual leader Guru Hargobind, the Sikhs observe Diwali. For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the liberation of Bhagwan Mahaveer, the last of the saints. The Buddhists celebrate Diwali as the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism.

The Judah Hyam Synagogue, the only synagogue of Jews in north India, situated in the national capital will light diyas a day before and after Diwali. Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar lights diyas outside the synagogue before Diwali with his family and friends. “How can we stay away from Diwali when we live in India? It is impossible. Diwali is a festival of love, brotherhood, and leading oneself from darkness to light. We are Jewish, but we are also a part of this India,” he said.

Yes, Diwali is celebrated with great fervour even by many Christians too. The priests residing at the 1925 built ‘Brothers House’ in the capital also illuminate their abode and other institutions on the day. Around half-a-dozen priests, who reside there, say that festivals like Diwali, Eid and Christmas have transcended religious boundaries. They are celebrated by all.

Brother Solomon George from the Delhi Brotherhood Society (DBS), says “We celebrate Christmas, Diwali, Eid, Independence Day and Republic Day with our students. We want to give a clear message that pluralism is the cornerstone of our country.”

Like in the past, Imam Umer Ilyasi, the Islamic scholar and champion of the Inter faith movement in India, lights diyas outside the Gol Masjid near India Gate. This is an age-old tradition that was started by Maulana Jameel Ilyasi, founder-president of All India Imam Conference and father of Maulana Umer Ilyasi in the 1960s.

Maulana Umer Iliyasi, the Imam of Gol Masjid, says that “the festival of Diwali inspires us to move from darkness to light. Diwali should not be considered as a festival of one particular community. In fact, who in India can stay away from Diwali?”

The venerable Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia is also illuminated for the festival of lights. The Haji Ali Dargah is illuminated marking Diwali celebrations, while there is a tradition of lighting diyas at the Dargah Matka Pir near the Supreme Court. Maulana Qayuum Abbasi says that the tradition lives on in the form of syncretic celebrations by Muslims. Meanwhile, the tradition of celebrating Diwali on a grand note at Jamia has been going on since the time of Dr. Zakir Husain, who as the then Vice-chancellor, laid the foundation for celebrating Diwali. He himself used to see how the preparations for the lighting were going on. This tradition gained strength when eminent historian Dr. Mushirul Hasan became the VC.

Well, religion is an individual calling but festivals are for everyone. Diwali has evolved globally as a secular Indian festival, where everyone takes part irrespective of their religious beliefs.

“The lights of Diwali signify a time to destroy all our dark desires and thoughts, eradicate evils and give us the strength to carry on with our goodwill for the rest of the year,” notes eminent writer and Inter-faith activist, Feroz Bakht Ahmad.

(The author is Delhi-based senior journalist and writer. He is author of Gandhi's Delhi which has brought to the forth many hidden facts about Mahatma Gandhi)