President’s Message
Dear Friends,
Very warm greetings.
Diwali or Deepavali is known as the Festival of Lights and based on various Hindu mythology, Puranas, skandas is celebrated to honour Ramachandra. The mythology and epic of Ramayana have it that Lord Ramachandra was the seventh avatar (incarnation) of god Vishnu and probably existed between 5,000 BCE or 1,250 BCE. It is believed that on this day Lord Ram returned to his people and kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, towards the end of which he won a battle against the king of Sri Lanka, Ravan.
Diwali is celebrated across quite a few countries world over including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, obviously due to the presence of people of Indian origin or settled Indian diaspora.
Diwali is considered the most important of the Hindu festivals in India, as also in Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. It is also a post-harvest festival.
The important days of this festival are ‘Dhanteras’ worshipping Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi; ‘Naraka Charturdashi’ (also known as ‘chhoti Diwali’) which marks the killing of Narakasura by Lord Krishna (worshipped as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu); ‘Laxmi Pujan’ day or ‘Diwali’ that is last day of the Hindu calendar year; followed by the New Year. The day following the New Year too is an important day of ‘Bhai Dujj’ or ‘Bhau-Bheej’ which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
The festival celebrates the Hindu New Year with new beginnings, the victory and triumph of good over evil and, overcoming of light over darkness. People look forward to worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and celebrating the festival with diyas, music, traditional sweets, meeting and bonding with family and friends, and seeking the blessings of elders.
Looking forward to seeing you all at our Diwali Nite on October 23rd organised by the Fellowship Committee headed by Rtn. Ashok Jatia.
While we celebrate this festival of lights, I am delighted to share with you that our Club has been instrumental in spreading ‘light and joy’ to the people of Gumbadpada, a village near Nashik, by inaugurating an Integrated Rural Development Project encompassing elements of (a) solar power for domestic use, e-learning, water filtration plant; (b) water for domestic use and irrigation (c) construction of toilet blocks;and (d) mogra, mango and cashew tree and saplings plantation. I am thankful to PP Rtn. Ramesh Narayan for suggesting this Project and connecting RCB with Mrs. Pratibha Pai and her ‘Chirag Rural Development Foundation’. I am also grateful to the Board of Directors for supporting this Project, and to Rtn. Madhusudan Daga, Chairman of the Environment Committee, for heading the Project.
Our Club is blessed to be able to ‘bring smiles and joy’ to others less privileged and I am, indeed, delighted that the people of Gumbadpada village will also celebrate the festival of lights with more joy due to our efforts. I would like to specially thank our donors Godrej Consumer Products (through our Hon. Rtn. Adi Godrej) and Rtn. Manoj Murarka for their generous donations.
Wishing you all a Very Happy Diwali and, a healthy, happy, bright and prosperous New Year! May this Diwali light up new dreams, kindle fresh hopes, open undiscovered avenues and vistas, in service and fellowship, offer different perspectives, and everything bright and beautiful, fill your days with pleasant surprises and moments. Rejoice on this blessed occasion by spreading and sharing joy and cheer to the not so privileged.
Preeti Mehta
President