Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas will be celebrated in Delta this fall, and other cultural events will be added the city's calendar.
Earlier this month, council unanimously supported a motion by Coun. Jennifer Johal directing staff to report back with recommendations for an event to mark Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas, and explore possible partnerships and/or collaborations that would support the event as well as other cultural celebrations in Delta.
In her motion, Johal said cultural events play a crucial role in fostering an inclusive environment and broadening the community's understanding of diverse cultures and backgrounds, noting the city should be a leader in diversity-focused programming that is reflective of the rich and varied makeup of Delta’s population.
"After reviewing the calendar of events, I noticed that there was a significant number of celebrations, however there seemed to be a little bit of a gap here on terms of diversity. So while I've specifically put forth this motion for Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas, I want to emphasize that I also strongly believe additional events such as Lunar New Year should be included as well," Johal told council in speaking to her motion on March 3.
Noting Delta's communities are populated by people from different backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures, Johal said diversity-focused events are vital as they not only reflect the culture and identity of the city, but show that Delta is "dynamic, forward-thinking and evolving with [the] times."
"By integrating these events into our calendar, we offer citizens the opportunity to be represented, feel seen and be included. This fosters a sense of belonging and unity, which is essential in a healthy and thriving community," she said, emphasizing her motion's "social value."
"Moreover, these events encourage people to engage with different cultures, promoting understanding and respect. It allows for deeper cultural appreciation and strengthens the social fabric of our community. Every time we invest in educational, immersive experiences and events like this, we create a better understanding, respect and friendships among citizens."
Delta has not held Diwali celebrations in six years, though from 2014 to 2018 the city hosted a small annual festival in North Delta.
The free, family-friendly event — held at the old Firehall Centre for the Arts before moving to the North Delta Recreation Centre — ran between two and five hours, depending on the year, and featured traditional foods, dance lessons and performances, mehndi (henna) body art, turban-tying workshops and painting diyas (traditional shallow earthen lamps lit during Diwali to ward off evil).
Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali usually falls either in October or November, its date is based on the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2025, Diwali will be celebrated Oct. 18-23.
Originating in India, Diwali recognizes victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair. Families light diyas and decorate their houses with colourful rangoli — artworks made by creating patterns on the floor using coloured rice or powder.
Indian sweets and gifts are shared, and food, money and goods are given to those in need during the (usually) five-day celebration. Candles and fireworks are a significant part of the festival throughout, and it is also traditional for people to clean their homes in honour of the new season.
Diwali is celebrated around the world by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists, making it an important date in multiple religious calendars, albeit for different reasons.
Hindus honour the legend of Lord Rama and his wife Sita’s return home after 14 years in exile, and also of Lord Rama’s epic battle with the demon King Rawan, whom he kills. The people of Ayodha, home of Lord Rama, were so excited to hear that their beloved future king was coming home that they lit the way for him and his wife with diyas.
In most of India, the festival consists of a five-day celebration that peaks on the third day with the main celebration of Diwali. In other places, usually only the main day is celebrated.
The Sikh holiday Bandi Chhorh Divas coincides with Diwali, landing this year on Oct. 21. It celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619. Tradition holds that Mogul Emperor Jahangir agreed to release Guru Hargobind Ji but said only those princes who could hold his cloak tail would be allowed to leave the prison as well.
In response, Guru Hargo-bind Ji had a cloak made with 52 pieces of string so each prince was able to hold onto one string and leave prison. He arrived at Amritsar on the third day of Diwali and the Golden Temple was lit with hundreds of lamps to celebrate his return.
For Jains, Diwali commemorates the life of Mahavira, the 24th and final tirthankara (supreme preacher of dharma), and his attaining nirvana in either 527 BCE (Śvētāmbara tradition) or 510 BCE (Digambara tradition).
— with files from Keri Coles/ronaldomanosa
