More than a billion people across world are preparing for Diwali, the festival of lights celebrating the triumph of good over evil, shared by people of faiths including Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Jay Bhandari, 58, is one of the organizers of the Washington area’s largest Diwali Mela, or fair, to be held Oct. 30, noon till 10 p.m., at the Patriot Center in Fairfax. Bhandari, who moved to the United States in 1992 from Indore, India, is also president of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin. He sat down with The Washington Examiner to share thoughts on his own faith, and its ancient tradition of learning from each of the others.
Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?
I was born into a Jain family, and since childhood have practiced it. Jainism is one of the oldest scientific religions on Earth, with origins 3,000 years before Christ. Jains believe in non-absolutism. As a Jain, I am open to all religions, and I respect them. The principles of non-violence, forgiveness and non-possessiveness form the main pillars of the religion, and the belief that all souls are equal – that none is inferior. Following the principles of Jainism creates the potential to turn enemies into friends, transforming the world into a place for living peacefully, with happiness and harmony.
Isn’t it a danger to your own beliefs, though, to be so open to the truth in the religious beliefs of others?
Openness does not mean that you necessarily follow the beliefs of others, but that those religions might be saying the same idea from a different perspective. You listen, and take that in, vs. following with blind faith. You have to judge an idea, and test it. And if it makes sense to you, learn from it.
Hindus, Jains and Sikhs each celebrate Diwali at the same time, but for different reasons. However, each of the reasons seems to be a part of everyone’s celebration. How does that work — the blurred lines between one reason for the festival and another reason?
The significance in India of Diwali — the celebration of the triumph of good over evil — is immense. It carries the same significance as Christmas in the U.S. Hindus celebrate the occasion of Lord Ram’s return to his kingdom at Ayodhya after his exile; Jains celebrate their 24th Tirthankar — prophet — Lord Mahavir’s attainment of nirvana, or salvation. Sikhs celebrate the release on this day of their sixth Guru Hargobind Sahib, along with 50 kings, from Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s prison. However, the whole country celebrates together. Everyone has the day off — you feel the festivity.
Most Indian people are open to adapting anything — this is the specialty of Indians. Even those of us who are not Muslim respect the Muslim fakirs — ascetics of the Muslim Sufi tradition. That’s a very unique thing in India. Even non-Muslims go to Muslim spaces like Ajmer Sharif and Haji Ali — considering it a holy place.
The Indian experience in the United States has been largely an incredible success story, economically and socially. What homesicknesses remain?
The basic homesickness is that in America, neighbors rarely have the same intimacy with each other and their community that we had in India. In India, neighbors all know each other, and to walk into your neighbor’s house uninvited and to eat there is no problem. For children to go to other people’s homes does not worry parents — even for them to sleep there. Parents don’t need to worry about where their child is, because everyone takes care of each other. In India, neighbors are like family that you can count on.
At your core, what is one of your defining beliefs?
I believe that to be human is to try to be good, to try to help each other and live in harmony. As a Jain, I believe in “vasudev kutumbakam” — a Sanskrit term for worldly brotherhood. Everyone is our family — I believe that. If we treat everyone accordingly, there will be no conflict, no major problems, and everyone will be at peace in the world, and we’ll have peace in our own lives.
– Leah Fabel
