‘This is a very special day’

Autumn harvest celebrations have been a staple of humanity for millennia, giving thanks for the crops that would feed people through the winter.

Ancient examples include Gaelic festival of Lughnasadh, tributes to harvest gods such as Demeter and Ceres in ancient Greek and Rome, the Jewish festival of Sukkot and the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

The celebration of Diwali began in ancient India some 2,500 years ago – when farmers lit lamps to express gratitude to the sun for its warmth, light and help growing crops – and gradually became a fusion of several local festivals.

More than 100 people continued the ancient tradition and enjoyed the Diwali Fair – the Festival of Lights – on Oct. 25 at the township’s Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization (BKWSO) Meditation Center.

“This is a very special day, bringing light to the darkness,” said Director Sister Dolly (her religious name), who came to the U.S. in 1974, attended college and taught special-education students in New York City schools.

Seeking a purpose in life after retiring, she founded the meditation center on Riverton Road in 2006, sensing a great need for people to recognize themselves and to know and believe in their positive energy.

“The future is very beautiful and bright,” she noted, adding that the center is a place to detach from the daily pressures of life, re-energize the spirit and reconnect with one’s self.

“The world really doesn’t want to change,” Sister Dolly added. “When I change, the world changes.”

The Diwali celebration began with a special ceremony that opened with Srividya Karra performing an interpretive dance dressed in traditional Indian garb. Next came the lighting of the Diwali Diya at a small table in front of the stage.

“Om Shanti. Good afternoon,” the soft-spoken Sister Dolly told the audience, adding that the light is a single flame of hope, positive change and courage.

“Just for a moment, think what does this light mean to me?” she asked.

“God and hope,” one attendee answered. “The light is a reflection of God that expels negative thoughts.”

A youngster followed with, “The light guides you.”

“What a beautiful thought,” Sister Dolly responded. “I wish you all a very happy Diwali.”

After the opening program, attendees visited various outdoor booths set up for the fair in the parking lot. There were rangoli colors for all, face painting for children, meditative moments and a chance for attendees to taste Indian sweets.

Events coordinator Brother Gokul (his religious name) explained the meaning of some of the booths, beginning with the lighting of the Diwali Diya earthen lamp for “freeing the energy in the body to gain spiritual knowledge, peace, joy, love, purity and wisdom and realizing the connection between spiritual knowledge and the soul.”

In front of the next booth was the rangoli, traced out in a symmetrical design on the pavement symbolizing purity, prosperity and warmth. People were encouraged to pick a color of their choice and fill individual sections of the artwork representing the circle of life and time, Brother Gokul said.

The third booth featured a nerf English dart board with each number representing the evils of Ravan, a 10-headed demon. Attendees could throw tiny nerf balls at the board and kill demons such as depression, jealousy, worry and the fear that prevents people from living spiritual lives.

After eliminating those negative emotions, participants then headed to a coronation booth, celebrating the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Courses and programs at the meditation center focus on developing each person’s own spiritual journey by emphasizing the process of discovering inner qualities. Students are helped to achieve peace of mind by learning a practical form of meditation, according to Brother Gokul.

The center – which serves as the main location of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization in New Jersey – cuts across boundaries and is open to all faiths.