Prestigious Catholic school in NY displays Diwali

From Our Correspondent

Nevada (USA) :  In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Marymount School of New York (USA), a Catholic institution, organized Diwali demonstration.

It reportedly included lighting of diyas and the girls learned how to wrap a sari. Each girl of Class One was presented with her own sari to wear.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has applauded Marymount for honoring Diwali, calling it “a step in the right direction”.

In a statement in Nevada (USA) today, Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that awareness about other religions thus created by such displays would make the Marymount pupils well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.

In the past also, Marymount celebrated Diwali with a traditional breakfast of idly, upma, mango-lassi, alu-bhaji, etc. It also included sari displays, lighting of candles in clay jars, bangles decoration, bindis, coloring of Diwali posters, and mehndi hand paintings by a henna-artist.

Marymount is a college preparatory, independent, Catholic day school for girls, founded in 1926 and directed by the Religious Order of the Sacred Heart of Mary established in 1849 in Béziers (France). Headmistress is Concepcion Alvar while Board Chair is Beth Nielsen Werwaiss of Maymount, which promotes “responsible living in a changing world”.

According to Rajan Zed, Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Hindus worship goddess of good fortune and beauty Lakshmi, god of wisdom and auspiciousness Ganesh, and mountain Goverdhan on this day. Also on this day, coronation of Lord Ram was held, Lord Hanuman was born, Lord Vishnu returned kingdom to monkey king Bali of Kiskindha, Lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi married, Lord Krishan killed demon Narakasur, and ancient king Vikramaditya was crowned. On this day of forgiveness, festivities, and friendliness; families and friends get together for worship followed by a sumptuous and elaborate feast. It is also considered a harvest festival.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.