Image Source: International Business Times

BY: IRIS ZHANG

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Happy Diwali! Wednesday marks the start of India's biggest festival. It's known as the Hindu New Year and the “festival of lights.”

Families and friends gathered to celebrate the festival by lighting up diyas (Di-Ya), or oil lamps and firecrackers, wearing new clothes and sharing sweets.

In the United States, President Obama has sent his holiday wishes to observers of Diwali.

“I was proud to be the first President to mark Diwali and light the Diya at the White House...To all who are observing this sacred holiday here and around the world, Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak.”

And this week, United States Senate has passed a resolution to recognize the historical and spiritual significance of Diwali. One senator explains the move.

"The message of tolerance, compassion, and victory of goodness over evil taught by Diwali presents reason for us all to celebrate, regardless of our religious or ethnic background... we are reminded that as Americans, we cherish our right to freedom of religion.”

But some are concerned that Christians are co-opting a Hindu tradition and possibly overstepping their bounds. The Houston Chronicle examined the idea of religious intersection and talked to both sides. In the discussion, they did find resistance to ‘sharing’ this holiday.

“Asked about the possibility of Christian Diwali celebrations in Houston, a local Indian pastor from The Woodlands demurred, ‘it is a major Hindu festival, Christ is not part of the celebration.’ ‘Whenever possible I seek the Scriptures for knowledge and direction’ said the pastor. ‘I am not sure there is any place in the Scriptures where it talks about redeeming a heathen idea.’”

But the Co-founder of the Hindu American Foundation counters in an op-ed for The Washington Post, saying the spread of Diwali embodies the values of Hinduism and The United States of America.

“For when Diwali matures beyond an interesting, exotic blip on the calendar, and into a day of palpable import in the lives of more than two million Americans, in the mainstreaming of a festival will lie the narrative of assimilation of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. This quest for Diwali resonates with the very American ethos of pluralism...”