Diwali – Chopda Pujan – 20 Oct

Diwali is celebrated as a radiant blend of devotion, prosperity, and remembrance of dharma. The festival begins with homes and streets glowing with rows of diyas, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and the welcoming of Goddess Lakshmi. Families gather for Lakshmi-Ganesha puja, share sweets, and rejoice in togetherness.

A distinctive Gujarati tradition is Chopda Pujan, where business families worship new account books (chopdas) on Diwali night. Inscribed with Shubh (auspicious) and Labh (profit), these ledgers are sanctified before Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Sharda, marking the start of the Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas). This ritual reflects the belief that wealth, when guided by wisdom and righteousness, becomes sacred service.

Alongside these practices, Diwali also honors Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana. Communities recall the ideals of Ram Rajya—justice, truth, and compassion—through temple rituals, storytelling, and devotional songs. The lighting of lamps is seen as echoing the joy of Ayodhya’s people who illuminated their city to welcome Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana home. Thus, Diwali, Chopda Pujan, and Rama’s remembrance together weave a tapestry of spiritual illumination, ethical prosperity, and ancestral values that guide Gujaratis into the new year.

General running order:

• 6:00 – 8:00pm – Chopda Pujan. Puja ceremony conducted by Shree Rakeshbhai Bhatt
• 8:00 onwards –  entertainment and  Mahaprashaad