Diwali: A Catalyst for Communal Harmony Within India?

The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council organized a Diwali celebration on Nov. 11 that sought to foster communal amity by incorporating members of various faith traditions, according to ANI News. The event, organized in the region of Kochi within the state of Kerala, was attended by religious leaders from the Jain, Sikh, and Hindu communities as well as residents in the area.

The Kochi celebration constitutes one of several Diwali festivities that aim to bring adherents of different faiths together within the country. In 2012, employees of the Indian Railway Services in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh participated in Diwali celebrations that united Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs. Last year, the arrival of the festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat saw Muslim artisans preparing ledgers for Hindu clients, for many of whom Diwali marks the beginning of a new business year.  

The purpose of Diwali differs across faith traditions. Hindus, for example, celebrate the return of Prince Rama from exile to the city of Ayodhya, as well as the defeat of the demon Narakasura by divine forces. For Jains, the festival marks the commemoration of the spiritual master Lord Mahavira. Sikhs celebrate the release of the spiritual leader Guru Hargobind from Mughal captivity, while Buddhists remember President Ashoka and his adoption of the principle of nonviolence. Despite such differences in its significance however, Diwali appears to be capable of being a unifying rather than divisive force within India, as demonstrated by the prevalence of interfaith celebrations of the festival throughout the country. At a time in which incidents of religious violence have increased by 24 percent in the first half of this year, the role of Diwali in encouraging communal harmony is particularly meaningful and certainly comforting.