IMPACT OCTOBER 2015
Sponsored children and their families celebrate Diwali by lighting fountains and other fireworks.
C ULTURAL DIVERSIT Y
A LIGHT THROUGH THE DARKNESS T
he sounds of fireworks fill the air. Big booms accompany
over darkness as seen in the story of Lord Krishna’s wife
bursts of light against the sky. Smaller bursts sound
Satyabhama, who defeated the evil Narakasura.
off closer to the ground as children run about lighting
According to Bhavana Jayanthi, correspondence
fountains and firecrackers. Though a new moon hangs in
coordinator for Unbound in Hyderabad, India, “Diwali
the sky, the autumn night is lit by thousands of small clay
upholds the spirit of the warrior in a woman, which can
lamps called diyas.
confront evil and conquer it for the good of the world.”
For many in India, the noise and light signify one of their most important holidays. Diwali is a Hindu festival, also known as the festival of lights, and marks the Hindu
Diwali is a multi-day festival, but most celebrations take place during the new moon. “The day starts with burning firecrackers around 4 a.m.,”
New Year. Though the date changes each year, Diwali falls
Bhavana said, “followed by prayers, temple visits and
sometime between mid-October and mid-November. In
eating delicious sweets the whole day. Then, in the
southern India, the festival celebrates the victory of light
evening as the sun sets, clay lamps are lit.” (continued on back)
NO PACKAGES PLEASE
GIVE THANKS BY GIVING TO OTHERS
As Christmas approaches, we remind sponsors not to send packages
Giving Tuesday is a time, following the Thanksgiving
to their sponsored friends. Packages cause unnecessary receiving
weekend, to share our blessings by supporting
costs and labor for our project staff and are often lost or stolen
charitable causes we believe in. Please remember
in transit. The best thing you can do is send a personal Christmas
Unbound on Dec. 1 by sponsoring a child or
greeting to your sponsored friend and donate to our Christmas fund
contributing to our education initiative.
so that all sponsored members have a happy holiday.
Learn more at unbound.org/givingtuesday
(continued from front) The light symbolizes knowledge and divinity and attracts prosperity to the home. For 11-year-old Kavya, who is sponsored through Unbound in India, Diwali means learning family traditions by helping
Arun uses colored powder to make a beautiful rangoli outside her home.
her mother with household tasks. “On other holidays, I don’t get to help my mother in the kitchen,” Kavya said. “But on Diwali, I help her in putting out dolls and also in cooking. On other holidays I do homework or play with friends. But on Diwali I will be with my mother. “In 2014, for the first time I went along with my mother to buy the diyas. … [In] previous years my maternal grandmother used to present them to us. But last year we bought them for ourselves. So it’s special for me.” In some neighborhoods, women have contests with each other to see who can create the best rangoli. A type of Indian artwork, rangoli is made on the ground using colored sand
It is also our culture to put rangoli in front of the house for any auspicious event. or other natural materials, and is featured during Hindu festivals such as Diwali. “Rangoli is put out to invite goddess Lakshmi (Hindu goddess of prosperity) into the house,” said Kavya’s mother,
give as gifts. Bhavana keeps the memory of her grandmother
Arun. “We decorate the designs with flower petals and
alive through the collection of coins she received from her as
different colored powders to look beautiful and attractive.
Diwali gifts, one each year.
And it is also our culture to put rangoli in front of the house for any auspicious event. At evening time we decorate the
Varun Bobbala, a young man formerly sponsored through Unbound, says family is the most important part of Diwali. “I lived in a boarding school for 11 years,” he shared. “We
rangoli with diyas.” Diwali is also a time of gift giving. Many families purchase new clothes, household items, sweets, coins and jewelry to
would get three days off for Diwali, and my favorite part was spending time with my family.”
Arun and her daughter Kavya, who is sponsored through Unbound in India.
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