For this particular project, I wanted to focus on something
that celebrates and bridges the binary. We are consistently talking about
the negative. We want to focus on who is fighting who, what country is getting
ready to build more drones, which religion is establishing oppressive regime
upon its followers, but a lot of the time we do not have a full understanding
of these cultures and countries. We immediately like to believe that that small
negative piece defines the entirety of that culture and country. These people,
like us, have national celebrations and come together. They lead normal lives
according to their culture, and have mothers, fathers, breathe and survive
disasters. With this thought in mind, I wanted to my editorial piece focused on
educating viewers about a foreign celebration that brings a nation and its
people together (Such as Christmas and Thanksgiving).
Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world and one
of antiquity. It reaches back into time before Jesus and Mohammed. Diwali, the
festival of lights is celebrated by Hindus across the world. Diwali is
celebrated by Buddhists as well. The festival lights celebrate the simple yet
profound idea of good triumphing over evil. Just this weekend I went to a Diwali festival
and it inspired me to do a piece about it because I would personally like to do
research on my ancestral roots. I am an American, but my parents are Pakistani
and my grandparents were Indian. I have
things that are set a certain way in my life here because of what was
historically dictated with my older relatives. I wish to gain that knowledge for
a better understanding of them and those around me. I’ve been in a downward
spiral lately obsessively researching the magical culture from which I’ve came
from. This would be a great way to let all of my inspiration into an art piece.
The article I have chosen focuses in on the spread of
knowledge of this particular festival. Living in America, known as the “melting
pot” of the world, many people don’t have a clue as to what this is and how it
plays a vital role in the world and in our own country. Many Indians take this
day off to celebrate the destruction of Ravan (The ten headed villain) after Hanuman (monkey god) and Ram defeated
him for kidnapping Sita (Ram's wife).
Diwali is very interesting in that although it is a celebration of a mythological story, it is far more than that. It looks at the duality of good vs. evil within everyone and everything. Diwali is also not meant for Hindu's only, but those who accept good over evil and celebrate it. This is why one can find Muslims, Christians, Atheists, Jews, Buddhists and a variety of groups celebrating its message.
Diwali is very interesting in that although it is a celebration of a mythological story, it is far more than that. It looks at the duality of good vs. evil within everyone and everything. Diwali is also not meant for Hindu's only, but those who accept good over evil and celebrate it. This is why one can find Muslims, Christians, Atheists, Jews, Buddhists and a variety of groups celebrating its message.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/25/diwali-hindu-festival-of-lights-america_n_1031492.html
Pakistani's celebrating Diwali.
South African's celebrating Diwali
A lighted up Mandala motif of traditional candles
No comments:
Post a Comment