Celebrations of light

A Journey of Discovery by Marian Sharp, a Community Chaplain in Bradford.

Christmas lights in the street in October? Whatever next! I was driving home on a late autumn evening four years ago from Touchstone, the Methodist Urban Mission Centre in Bradford. Surprised to see the attractive circular lights brightening up the street, I looked closer and saw the words ‘Happy Diwali’, cheering me on my way. I had just started a five-year appointment as Community Chaplain working in Touchstone, Bradford University and College.

It was then that I began a journey of rapid discovery, at grass roots level, of other faith traditions.  I had read, among other texts, John McQuarrie’s book ‘The Mediators’, which outlines 10 major world religions but had not experienced first hand such a diverse and multi cultural city as Bradford.

THE HINDU FESTIVAL OF DIVALI
So why were the Divali lights strung across the Bradford streets in October? I discovered that the Hindu faith community has a strong sense of the Sacred, with a sense of supernatural power ever present in all life for both good and ill. Symbolism abounds and colourful Hindu temples are special places to visit - the Queen opened a new temple this year in Bradford. The sacred Hindu festival of Divali, the word means ‘row of lights’, marks the beginning of a new year for the Hindu community. The five day festival is linked with religious events, which include worship of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, peace and universal understanding. Her way to the homes of devotees is lit by a million lamps!

In the Hindi household Divali is a time for cleaning houses and decorating them with candles and small lamps known as diwa. Gifts and sweets are exchanged among friends and relatives. In the Hindu business world account books for the New Year are opened. Krishma Kumar Mittal, writing in the ‘Faith Matters’ column of Bradford’s local newspaper says; ‘Divali also imparts a spiritual message – the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and goodness over evil.

Divali is full of ancient traditions of happiness and celebration which can be experienced by anyone, regardless of their faith tradition or background’. The words ‘Lead me from darkness to light’, forming the beginning of the international prayer for peace, connect and echo the spiritual essence of the Hindu faith.

This year a Hindu faith advisor, Manoj N L Joshi, has joined the Chaplaincy and Faith Advisors’ team at the university, so I look forward to hearing how he celebrates Diwali.

Fireworks are very much part of Diwali celebrations too! In recent years the Christian community of Touchstone has shared some of the excitement of Diwali with an employee, Matixa, an engineering graduate. The life she receives from her holy scriptures, the light and joy she experiences celebrating her festivals, resonate strongly with the monotheistic faiths of Sikhism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity, which also express life, light and joy through festivals, worship, holy scriptures, sharing hospitality, prayer and in daily living.

SIKH CELEBRATION OF DIVALI
We have a Sikh faith advisor, Harjap Pooni, at the university, as you can see from the photograph.

In November the Sikh community celebrate the birth of the first Guru Nanak, (1469-1539) to whom the religion traces its origins. The title Guru is derived from two Punjabi words, ‘gu’ meaning darkness and ‘ru’ meaning light. A Guru is therefore someone who leads a person from the darkness of ignorance to spiritual enlightenment.

Joy Barrow, in the book ‘Paths of Faith’ writes, ‘Sikhs believe that Guru Nanak at the age of thirty was called by God to ‘go into the world to pray and teach humanity how to pray’. Guru Nanak used humility, respect, love and kindness as he laid the foundations of the Sikh faith.

The Sikh community also celebrate Diwali. For Sikhs it is a reminder of the return to Amritsar of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, who had been unjustly imprisoned during the reign of Emperor Jehangir. When offered his freedom, Guru Hargobind refused to leave until fifty-two Hindu princes, who had also been unjustly imprisoned, were freed.

The Mughal authorities agreed that as many princes as could hold onto the Guru’s cloak would be released. With great wisdom, Guru Hargobind ordered a cloak with fifty-two tassels to be made. Holding onto a tassel each, all the princes walked to freedom. By his actions Guru Hargobind was exemplifying the Sikh respect for all faiths and its concern for humanity’.

This is something to celebrate indeed and to emulate in Bradford and other multi-cultural communities.

THE MUSLIM FESTIVAL OF RAMADAN
When I started my appointment at Touchstone the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which starts at the end of Ramadan, almost coincided with the beginning of Advent.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and I have been challenged by the devotion and discipline shown in this month of fasting. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the lunar system. Bahiya and Sufyan Gent, the Muslim faith advisors at Bradford University, tell me that Ramadan starts at the first sighting of the new moon.

During this month it is an obligation for all adult Muslims to fast but there are dispensations for the sick, elderly, pregnant women and children. Sadjee Nazlee of Bradford tells us that ‘Ramadan is a month of training, when Muslims exercise self-discipline and revitalise their spirituality. The basic purpose of fasting is that one may attain God-consciousness. Ramadan is a time of increasing acts of worship such as optional night prayers and recitation of the Qur’an.’

My colleague Awais, the faith to faith worker at Touchstone, and I, have together been involved in meeting and befriending the women of the local Muslim community in our inner city area of Bradford. We decided that we would invite our Muslim friends to an Eid/Advent party. We would share food and information about Advent and ask the Muslim community to inform us about Eid and Ramadan. We were told that Eid is a wonderful festival, two days of holiday from school, everyone has new clothes; there is a visit to the Mosque, then a special lunch shared with the extended family.

The children play games in the afternoon, which can range from pass-the-parcel to remembering as many of the names of Allah as possible. At one of the Eid/Advent parties (over four years they have become a tradition, even though the date of Eid changes!) one Muslim family informed us about  the traditions of the Eid festival through a short drama.

I talked about Advent being a time of spiritual preparation as Christians celebrate ‘God with us’ in the birth of Jesus Christ. We also invited the Muslim children and mothers to decorate our Christmas tree and make a table decoration. Then we all feasted on my Halal trifle and other lovely food which the women of both communities had prepared.

CHANUKAH – THE JEWISH FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
The Jewish community of Bradford is small and I have not yet experienced Chanukah, a Jewish Festival of light. However I do have a Jewish friend at the university who is part of the student support team. I have asked her to write about this special winter festival. She writes:

‘This year the Miracle of Chanukah will be celebrated from December 04, 2007 –- December 12, 2007. This is the history behind the festival. Antiochus, the Syrian-Greek ruler of Eretz Yisrael, forbade the Jews to practise Judaism. After a series of fierce battles the small army of the Hasmoneans, under the leadership of their general, defeated the vastly superior forces of the Syrian-Greek army. After their victory, the Jews entered the Temple, which had been desecrated, determined to rededicate the Beis HaMikdash immediately. They built a new Menorah and searched throughout the magnificent Temple compound for pure oil with which to light it.  After a thorough search only one small, sealed bottle was found.  They knew it was pure because it still bore the seal of the High Priest and contained enough oil to last a single night.  With great rejoicing they lit the Menorah’s lamps.  Miraculously, the one-day supply of oil lasted a full eight days, enough time to produce new oil.

Every year Jews throughout the world celebrate Chanukah to commemorate this great miracle and the miraculous military victory that allowed the Jews of that time to practise the mitzvos freely.  The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each night of the holiday – one on the first night, two on the second, and so on.  Typically three blessings (Brachot singular Brachah) are recited during this eight-day festival. On the first night of Chanukah, Jews recite all three blessings, while on all subsequent nights, they recite only the first two. The blessings are said before or after the candles are lit depending on tradition. On the first night of Chanukah one light (candle, lamp or electric) is lit on the right side of the Menorah, on the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first and is lit first, proceeding from left to right, and so on each night.’

Encouraged by my colleagues at Touchstone, especially the faith-to-faith worker, Awais Moghul, a Christian from Pakistan, I enjoy the privilege of sharing other faith festivals. As I do so, I sense a real and deepening appreciation of my own Christian faith and recognise that I have a God given opportunity to share the festivals which are special to my faith community. Especially the Christmas festival!

Deacon Marian Sharp is a community chaplain in Bradford, chaplain to the University and College and Touchstone. She is a local preacher in the Ilkley Circuit.

www.bradford.ac.uk/sfis/religious.htm