Fireworks ...
Colourful .... passion
Diwali is light, happiness.
It's a fantastic Hindu festival.
It's my life!
Good morning and Happy New Year. Welcome to the Swarminarayan Mandir in Neasden
Today is called Ankot.
Following yesterday's celebrations of Diwali.
Today is the first day of the New Year.
Hindus traditionally come here to celebrate this festival
... to offer God much thanks
Similar to yesterday,
but it's done in a very different way.
Whereas yesterday was about the dispelling of ignorance,
today is more about offering food and offering...
offering whatever one wishes to God.
That's done in the form of making a spectacular display
of over 1200 items of vegetarian food
that's offered to God in the sincerest form of
pure devotion, which we call Bhakti.
The word "Ankot" means ' a mountain of food'...
The food that you see is actually vegetarian.
The reason why it is vegetarian
is because vegatarian items are the most pure
and therefore we use those items to worship and offer to God
The second reason why we practise vegetarianism
is for the reason of Ahimsa
Ahimsa translates as minimal violence
Attached to this idea of Ahimsa, is the idea of Karma
That idea is very crucial to the Hindu philosophy.
We believe that a soul will re-incarnate numerous times
through many different bodies, be that human, animal or plant.
They will re-incarnate through many different universes
and by killing or harming an animal,
we'll be harming that soul.
The food itself is prepared by
the devotees you see around me today.
They prepare it at home.
Some come to the temple and prepare it here.
It all comes together as one big offering to God
Their food is then distributed as Prasad
Prasad means sacred or sanctified food,
which is then distributed amongst the devotees all around you.
Every devotee gets a box of Prasad when they leave.
We start the year off in the way we want to carry on.
So, as far as we're concerned
our religion means everything.
Our first point of contact is the temple.
Go and use blessings that give us piece of mind,
and we know the year ahead is going to be a good year for us.
A time to start again and prosperity...
...and good wishes. A time for community as well.
So yes, celebrating the triumph of good over evil
is something I think everyone can get behind.
So, everyone celebrates Diwali for the festival of lights.