Celebration of Diwali Sunday Service

First Church is very happy to return to a treasured tradition of celebrating Diwali. A custom begun in the last decade or so, the opportunity to celebrate in the last few years has not been available. When drawing wisdom from a spiritual tradition that is not our own, it is wise and respectful to invite practitioners from that spiritual tradition to lead and to teach us. This year we are delighted to host guest preacher, Rumni Saha,the Hindu Chaplain at Wellesley College and her musician husband Somen. Diwali is a significant festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. In a multicultural and diverse country like India, everyone has their own way of celebrating this festival. It is celebrated as the festival of lights, during which homes are decorated with candles. While the story of Diwali varies from region to region, its essence remains the same. People learn to rejoice in the inner light and the underlying reality of things.