Diwali is one of the most important and colourful festivals of the Hindu calendar. It is a time when charity, goodwill, family values and the love of God are celebrated and reinforced.

Most importantly, it is referred to as the Festival of Light, and is traditionally marked by placing decorated oil lamps (each called a (‘deepa’) in rows (‘avali’) – hence the Sanskrit name, ‘Deepavali’. This practice can be traced to the return of Bhagwan Rama to Ayodhya after vanquishing the evil King Ravana. The people of Ayodhya celebrated his return by lining the streets with oil lamps and decorating their front yards with colourful patterned designs (called a rangoli). Diwali thus celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is a reminder to dispel inner darkness with the light of God’s presence.

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj's
Diwali blessings
London – 21 October 2006

The day following Diwali is the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It is a time of renewal, reflection and resolution.

It is also an occasion for thanksgiving, and is traditionally celebrated with the Annakut – literally, ‘a mountain of food’.

This is a grand offering of hundreds of different vegetarian food items to thank God for his providence over the past year and to seek his blessings for the year ahead. This is in continuation of when Bhagwan Krishna urged the people of Gokul to offer thanksgiving to nature (in the form of Mount Govardhan) for all its gracious bounty.

Annakut is thus one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu year and celebrated fervently with gifts, feasting and merriment.

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj's
New Year's blessings
London – 22 October 2006

Hindu scriptures teach us to respect nature, and enjoin us to pray and act in a way that promotes peaceful, sustainable coexistence with all of God’s creation.

With the Hindu New Year being an occasion for thanksgiving to God and nature and also a time for resolution, this year’s celebrations at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir were themed “Go Veg… Go Green…”.

Through a series of eye-opening presentations, visitors were informed of the hugely positive impact of a vegetarian diet on the environment.

The presentations included posters, 3D exhibits, an information leaflet, and a short introductory documentary, all of which invoked facts from the world’s leading environmental scientists as well as words of wisdom from renowned politicians and celebrities.

DID YOU KNOW: The livestock industry is responsible for 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. That’s more than all the world’s cars, trucks, trains, planes and boats combined!

UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (2006)