Holy Days: A Year of Spiritual Celebration

A group of devotees is seated in a semi-circle around the image of Goddess Lakshmi, performing, Her puja. The priest chants soul-stirring mantras, prayers and shlokas as the devotees perform the intricate rites of the Diwali puja. Some ladies a few of their husbands, and a handful of the youth make their way around the temple and outside up the pathways, gracefully lighting a nearly infinite row of small delicate oil lamps. They kneel down, one by one, as the small wicks swimming in oil are lit. Soon the temple lights are shut off and the brilliance of the oil lamps fills the room. Brightly flickering flames cast elegant dancing shadows on the walls.