Queens District Leader Uma Sengupta hosted a Diwali Celebration recently at the World Fair Marina Restaurant in Queens.
Diwali, a five-day Hindu Festival marks the end of the harvest season in most of Indiaand is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Fiji.
For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year. It is popularly known as the Festival of Lights; but the significant spiritual meaning behind it is the awareness of the inner light. Common practice is to light small oil lamps which are placed around the home, as well as outside the home in courtyards and gardens.
Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion and has 800 million adherents.
Candles lighting was part of the festivities. Well known Queens attorney Christopher Renfroe, often called the Mayor of Queens Blvd. was one of the honorees.
