Livingston observes ‘Black Diwali’ in solidarity with protests in India

The festival of lights, a holiday celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus, has gone dark this year in many places around the world, including the city of Livingston, in a show of solidarity with protests taking place in India.

Diwali, which marks the beginning of India’s fiscal year, usually is a festive celebration with bright lights and fireworks. But Sikh and Hindu leaders in several cities called for a “Black Diwali” after people were killed and wounded during unrest that started when torn-up copies of the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, were found in a Punjab village last month.

One of the largest festivals in Indian culture, Diwali dates back to the 1600s, according to local Sikh religious leaders. The date also is known as Bandi Chor in the Sikh tradition and usually comes at the end of October or early November.

In Livingston, an area with a large Sikh population, two temples usually observe Diwali with prayer, dinner and a lights ceremony. At home, many celebrate by lighting oil lamps and sharing sweets.

At the Guru Nanak Sikh Mission in Livingston, 300 to 400 people show up every Diwali for prayer. After a ceremony, people place lights around the Nishan Sahib flagpole. This year, signs in Punjabi were placed outside the temple, discouraging people from lighting lamps.

Bhai Gurmeet Singh Nimana, the head granthi, or ceremonial leader, at the Livingston Sikh Mission, said the lighting was not banned, but simply discouraged due to the desecration of the holy book.

“It shows how we feel,” he said in Punjabi. “It shows our sadness more than anything else.”

A “Black Diwali” has only happened twice before in history, the granthi explained.

The Sikh Temple in Livingston on Peach Street did not host a Diwali event this year.

Gurpal Samra, a Livingston City Council member, said the Sikh population in Livingston still observed the spiritual aspect of the holiday. Families could continue to light lamps or candles at home, if they pleased, but many abstained in solidarity.

“We do not know why it was done, but it happened,” Samra said about the damaging of the holy text in India. “This is one way to protest.”

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Livingston observes ‘Black Diwali’ in solidarity with protests in India."