Friday, October 10, 2008

Hindus to celebrate Diwali Mela at Texas Stadium

By Staff of DFW International

DFW Indian Cultural Society (DFWICS) is organizing the third Diwali Mela on Saturday, October 18 from 4:00 - 11:00 p.m. at Texas Stadium in Irving. The hugely popular event is expected to attract more than 50,000 people from not just DFW but other neighboring cities in Texas as well.

Admission to the event is free. All attendees also get a free raffle ticket which gives them a chance to enter in to a drawing to win a car!

The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit deepavali, which means "row of lights." During Diwali, these lamps shine in rows along homes and temples—adorning windowsills, staircases, and parapets—or glow from little boats that float down rivers. Colorful candles are lit alongside lamps, while fireworks light up the night sky.

Like other aspects of Hinduism—the world’s oldest religion—the origins of Diwali are remote. The celebration probably has its roots in ancient harvest festivals. And like Hinduism, observance of Diwali is richly varied among the faith’s 800 million adherents. The widespread practice is to celebrate the joyous homecoming of Lord Rama, hero of the epic poem the Ramayana, after 14 years of exile. In some parts of India, Diwali honors the marriage of the Goddess Lakshmi and the God Vishnu; in others it celebrates the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka. Diwali also marks the beginning of a new financial year. Households and businesses begin new accounting in new ledgers, which are often decorated with images of Lakshmi.

The highlights of Diwali Mela 2008 include The Ramlila – the depiction of Lord Rama’s life, Ravan Dahan (burning of the effigy of demon king Ravana who was defeated by Rama), outstanding entertainment by talented artists from the DFW area and Bollywood stars, car giveaway, carnival area for children including an elephant ride, spectacular fireworks display, and 140 booths offering the best of food, information and merchandise. DFWICS is proud to recognize 10 outstanding teachers from Dallas and Irving school districts with a cash award of $1000 each. Several dignitaries and elected officials are expected to attend the festivities.

Diwali Mela is organized in the best of spirits to enhance the feeling of harmony and brotherhood in the society. It gives the people of Indian origin a chance to relive the nostalgic memories of Diwali and help their children appreciate and enjoy the tradition of the glorious Indian festival. It is also used to showcase Indian traditions and values to the people of DFW area and other neighboring cities. “Our goal is simple”, says Satish Gupta, the President of DFWICS – “ to create a magical memory for you, your family, your business, and your organization. Come, participate and enjoy.”

For more information, please visit www.dfwdiwalimela.com or call us at (682) 553-8012.

Pegasus News content partner - DFW International

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• Festivals
• Hinduism
• India