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Questions on Deepavali

From the Bhakti List Archives

Mohan Sagar • October 29, 1997 


Deepavali Greetings and Best Wishes, everyone!

Because of my western upbringing, I must admit to feeling a certain bit of
disconnection to what is certainly the most famous and lavish of all of
India's many holidays.  My only childhood memories of this occasion are
lighting sparklers (a rather weak facsimile of what I hear goes on in India
at this time) with my parents in our backyard or kitchen, donning new
clothes, and of course, eating snacks and sweets.  My only religious
connections to the holiday are the aradhanais to thayAr that my mother
performs regularly, a plethora of oil lamps in our home, and the
socio-cultural gatherings of Denver's various language based groups. 

While I am familiar with the incidents regarding the demise of the evil
narakAsuran, I would very much appreciate some thoughts as to what the
traditional SriVaishnava view is, if there is such, on the Hindu Festival of
Lights.  I would also be interested in hearing about some of the practices
of traditional SriVaishnavas on this day.

Thank you in advance.

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

Mohan