Hindus Gather for New Year Festival of Lights

Hindus from throughout Southern California converged on Cerritos Regional Park on Saturday to ring in the Hindu New Year with Diwali, the ancient Festival of Lights.

The festival, which in Hindu religious tradition commemorates the return of Lord Rama, the triumph of good over evil, drew Indians from throughout Southern California, many in colorful traditional attire.

“I haven’t seen Diwali since I was a kid in New Delhi,” said a beaming Dolly Gupta. She had driven from Bakersfield with her husband, Anil, a physician, so their American-born daughter, Nina, 6, could experience the tradition.

Nina, her eyes merry, nodded her approval with a big smile. “I feel happy,” she said.

An estimated 250,000 people of Indian heritage live in Southern California, and Cerritos has a large Indian population, organizers said.

Diwali is an end-of-the year time for thanksgiving, reflection and and preparing for a new year with a humble and charitable heart, attendees said.

“Children receive gifts, but adults exchange sweets--to make the heart sweeter,” said Kanti B. Patel, vice president of Federation of Hindus Assn., an umbrella group that sponsored the event for the second year.

The festivities began in the early afternoon with Yagna, a religious service during which priests chanted prayers, accompanied by drums, a harmonium and keyboard.

Dr. Pranav Pandya, head priest of All World Gayatri, flew in from India to lead prayers and chants. Devotees sat on plastic-covered grass in front of him and prayed and chanted softly.

“The rituals are for purifying our mind and body so that we can become fresh human beings for the new year,” said Patel.

“We are inviting gods and goddesses to come to our temple here to bless us.”

The festival’s dramatic moment was the torching of a 60-foot-high effigy of King Ravana, a 10-headed evil figure defeated by Lord Rama in the Hindu epic of Ramayana.

There was no immediate crowd estimate at Saturday’s event, which also included dances and songs and an exhibition of Indian foods and arts and crafts. Organizers said they drew 17,000 last year, and anticipated even more this year.

“The Hindu New Year is one of the happiest days of the year,” said Mahesh Bhatt, a civil engineer from Anaheim, who came with his son and daughter.

What better way, he said, than to let American-born Indian youngsters to experience their heritage by enacting the festival on such a grand scale.

“I hope they’ll make this an annual tradition,” said Asha Maithel of Cerritos as she stood near a makeshift temple with her relatives to savor the scene.