Happy Diwali, the festival of lights, and Bandi Chhor Divas from the BC Cultural Diversity Association’s Directors & members!
For Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, Diwali is the celebration good over evil, lightness over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. It’s a day when friends, neighbors and families come together to exchange gifts, to feast and to give sweets, and light diyas and illuminate their homes with lights.
Diwali is an annual homecoming and bonding period for friends, neighbors, families, for communities, associations and to bring everyone together in harmony and celebration. Diwali is also celebrated by SIkhs as the time when Amritsar the holy city of Sikhism in India was founded in 1577.
Bandi Chhor Divas (“Day of Liberation”) is a Sikh celebration that commemorates the day the sixth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind ji was released from Gwalior Fort and he was able to secure the release of 52 Hindu kings with him, imprisoned by Mughal Emperor Jahangir, symbolizing the Sikh value of standing up against persecution, regardless of faith.
We wish everyone who is celebrating a very happy, safe & prosperous Diwali and a Bandi Chhor Divas.
