Diwali celebrations at Sandwell and City

November 6, 2023

To celebrate Diwali across the Trust, our chaplaincy team in cooperation with junior doctors wellbeing team, will host Diwali celebrations at City Chapel on Monday 20 November, 12pm – 2pm and Sandwell Chapel on Tuesday 21 November, 12pm – 2pm. All colleagues are invited to come along and join in the festivities of the joint Hindu and Sikh Diwali celebrations.

Both celebrations will be opened with a short prayer from Rakesh Bhatt, our Hindu chaplain; he will give a blessing to all and wish good health upon our colleagues and patients. This will then be followed by a thank you speech from our Sikh chaplain, who will express gratitude to all those in attendance. The Diwali celebrations will then be concluded with an array of traditional Indian vegetarian refreshment for all to try and enjoy.

Hindus celebrate Diwali as they believe it marks the return of deities Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after their 14-year exile. This, as well as the Goddess Durga destroying a demon called Mahisha. Whilst Sikhs celebrate Diwali or known to them as Bandi Chhorn Divas, as it marks the release of the sixth guru, Hargobind Singh from prison in 1619. The foundation stone of the Golden Temple in Amritsar was also laid on Diwali in 1577.

Along with this celebration, the Sikh community also celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion. Sikhs celebrate this by reading and reflecting on the revealed teachings of the Guru as contained in the Sikh sacred scripture called Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. They also offer free community kitchen known as Langar to all visitors and the public.

The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word “deepavali” which translates to a row of lightened lamps. This ties in with many traditions around Diwali which include the lighting of lamps in houses and fireworks as well as worship around the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi to bring blessings for the New Year ahead.

For more information about the events please contact the chaplaincy team at City on ext. 4055/5051 and at Sandwell on ext. 3552/3557.