Chino Hills mandir celebrates Diwali, the Festival of Lights
Mandir light and sound shows will be every 30 minutes, starting at 6 p.m., through Monday
Shailey Patel, a dedicated volunteer from Eastvale, right, delicately adds final touches to a vibrant rangoli, a hand-decorated colorful pattern, as part of the Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Festival of Lights, also known as Diwali, celebrates the defeat of good over evil. All over the world, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and others gather together for cultural traditions that include feasts, festive lights, vibrant rangoli displays and colorful customs.
Visitors pose for a family photo during Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Shailey Patel, a dedicated volunteer from Eastvale, right, delicately adds final touches to a vibrant rangoli, a hand-decorated colorful pattern, as part of the Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Devotees pray inside the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir during Diwali celebration in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Pinal Patel of Chino, left, receives Mehndi art, intricate henna paste designs, on her hand by Mamta Vaghashia during Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A devotee finds solace in meditation inside the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir during the Diwali celebration in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Children engage in activities promoting unity at the Diwali children’s celebration held at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Manish Malviya, 5, from Eastvale, gets her face painted by Ishva Patel during the Diwali children’s celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Visitors appreciate the intricately hand-carved marble pillars inside the Hindu temple at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir during the Diwali celebration in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Pramod Kariyanna captures a family photo with his daughter, Aaradjya Kariyann, 2, his mother, Rathna Kariyanna, and wife, Apoorva Jayarangaiah, during the Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Jiyana Bhatt, 2, left, enjoys a water fountain display with her sister, Sahana, 6, during the Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Pinal Patel of Chino, left, receives Mehndi art, intricate henna paste designs, on her hand by Mamta Vaghashia during Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Attendees gather to celebrate Diwali at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles in Chino Hills on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The festivities continue Sunday, Nov. 12, with the mandir’s inaugural community Diwali celebration starting at 4 p.m. There will be mehndi and henna booths, diya or oil lamp-lighting, rangoli/mandala art, a special veterans’ tribute program, and cultural performances from various regions of India. As part of Diwali community service, all are invited to bring food or clean hygienic goods to donate to local shelters and pantries. There will also be a blood drive and care-kit-making booths all weekend long.
Organizer Mehul Patel said that Diwali “celebrates a universal message,” and ties in “traditional and contemporary values of love, light, renewal, peace and service.”
“These are all values we can agree on, especially in such tumultuous times around the world. It’s important for humanity to center around these values,” Patel said. “Diwali can be enjoyed by everybody who wishes to celebrate themselves and light — and the internal light that can be brought to everyone. The mandir celebrates opening the doors to everybody, and not just during Diwali.”
On Monday, Nov. 13, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir will also honor Annakut — a western Hindu New Year celebration — with a grand food offering to the sacred images at the mandir temple.
From Saturday through Monday, the mandir light and sound shows will be every 30 minutes, starting at 6 p.m. through 8 p.m.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Los Angeles is located at 15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd. in Chino Hills. For more information, visit bapsladiwali.org.
