Happy Diwali!
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
November 12, 2023
Gail Johnson Vaughan & Tracy Pepper, Worship Associates
Put on your colorful clothes, we’re celebrating Diwali! This is the first day of the vibrant and joy-filled Hindu festival of lights. Diwali festivities include illumination of lights, candles, firecrackers, and diya (clay lamps) to symbolize the victory of good over evil, inner light over spiritual darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. What better day than this for an introduction to the rich spiritual world of Hinduism.
Song for Gathering Enter, Rejoice, and Come In #361 by Louise Ruspini
Greeting and Land Acknowledgement Tracy Pepper
Lighting of the Chalice & Diyahs Shanti Emerson
Singing the Children on Their Way
Welcome Tracy Pepper
Opening Words Gail Johnson Vaughan
Wisdom for All Ages Video: What is Diwali?
Peace Chant Led by Hansaveda Self Inquiry Life Fellowship
Welcoming Lakshmi – Creating a Rangoli Led by Tracy Pepper
Prayer and Meditation Your Mercy, Oh Eternal One #185
words by Rabindrahath Tagore, set to traditional tue
Reading from Chandogya Upanishad 6.13, read by Tracy Pepper
Ram and Sita traditional Hindu story told by master storyteller Jivat Mukhi
Offering Gail Johnson Vaughan
Offertory Srutimangalam featuring sitar maestro Budhaitya Mukherjee and Soumen Nandy – tabla
Dedication Gail Johnson Vaughan
Thank you & Announcements
Closing Song When Our Heart is in a Holy Place #1008 by Joyce Poley
Closing Words written by Arpit Sihra, read by Tracy Pepper
Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice
Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.
Music for Going Forth Flights of Anjaneya featuring violin maestro Kumaresh Rajagopalan