Lighting up hearts

Helensburgh’s temple is set to celebrate Deepavali on November 4, writes Iris Huizinga

On a recent sunny weekend the local Sri Venkateswara Temple welcomed back a lot of happy – fully vaccinated – visitors from all over Sydney. With restrictions lifted in time for the Deepavali (pronounced and sometimes spelled ‘Diwali’) Festival on November 4, most visitors have a lot to look forward to after lockdown.

Pradhan: We have come from Strathfield, one-and-a-half hours driving. After four or five months the temple is open again. When you come to the temple, you get a different kind of peace, one that is needed for your mental stability: somewhere you can go and can pray to the Gods.

Akriti: Basically it gives a positivity in our life. We have been sitting in our home for a very long time. We were just waiting to come over here to get some positivity in our life, because of Covid, there is a lot of negativity. Here it’s very nice and peaceful.

Sonu: Not only mental peace, we can also see that all the Covid regulations are being followed here. We have our double doses. It’s very good that we are finally getting some kind of freedom, and we are able to visit a temple so that we are having our mental peace and we can enjoy ourselves a bit.

Akriti: I’m feeling very good. I have come out of my house. There were rules that we had to follow for our safety. But now that the government has told us we can go out of our houses, I’m feeling very good. The temple is the first place we have come to. We have started with the positive thing.

Hari: It feels great that after so many months the temple is now open.  And it’s an auspicious month for us as just two days ago we completed [Hindu festival] Navarathri. We are from central Sydney and my friends are from Parramatta.

It is great to come here today. We do prayers at home, but we have to come to the temple to see the idol and pray in front of the idol. It’s different to come to the temple.

Puneet: We travelled from the city, Town Hall. We have wanted to visit for a long time. We are happy today. We worship the Gods at home as well, but here we feel a calmness. It is like we are near to the Gods. I mean God is everywhere, you can pray from everywhere. Wherever you want, but this is the place to feel home, feel safe.

Thoughts on Deepavali (November 4)

Akriti: We are looking forward to Deepavali. For us it is lighting the earth and celebrating among our family. If we reach the full vaccination target, then it will be very good to have people around. In some part of my mind I still have that fear that I maybe get Covid. Let’s hope for the best and pray to the Gods.

Sonu: Last year I wasn’t able to visit [my friends’] place during Deepavali. Now I’ll hopefully be able to visit their home. We are planning to go to Harris Park and have a family dinner there. We’re also planning to go to the temple in Parramatta.

Puneet: At Deepavali, the Lord Rama Krishna kills demon Ravana, then travels back to his hometown, where the people welcome them and light up all their houses. People also worship the Goddess Lahksmi, goddess of all wealth and prosperity.

This is why they light up all the houses. It is a very big festival in India. Like with Christmas, people go home to be with their relatives. It’s family time, it is the kind of festival where everybody meets each other. At other times everyone is too busy with their lives.

Sneha: The fireworks is one thing I love and I used to celebrate it staying home with my brothers and sisters and cousins.  And there are so many sweets, such a variety of sweets!

Puneet: Lots of candy and sweets. You start celebrating Deepavali a week before. Everybody cleans their house especially for Deepavali. So everything is clean, new things, they wear new clothes. For a child it’s very new, they get new clothes, new dresses, all the sweets. And fireworks! As a child you enjoy all those firecrackers.

Hari: Of course I’m looking forward to Deepavali. We are planning to meet all our friends. Some four or five families, they are all already fully vaccinated. We are eagerly waiting, it will be good to meet again after almost a year.

Everyone will have a memory about Deepavali, not just the children. It is a festival everyone wants to celebrate, every year. A week before we will buy firecrackers, lighting. It starts with lighting the lamps in the entire home. In India it differs from state to state. Deepavali means line of lamps. It feels good. Everyone goes back home, meets up with their parents, takes their blessings.

We come together, on every festival, but Deepavali specifically. We celebrate Deepavali in the home, not in the temple.

About Deepavali (Diwali)

The Deepavali Festival on November 4 is one of the biggest festivals of the Indian community in Australia. The festival represents good winning over evil; it is a symbol of new beginnings, hope, renewed friendships, tolerance, peace and harmony.

Festive events are happening at Harris Park, Martin Place, Parramatta Park, and other venues around Sydney. You can expect Bollywood performances, henna tattoos, trade shows, bazaars, food vendors, and more. Most events are free and open to all.