Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, October 21, 2024 (serioustimes.org, by Dr. James Emery White, a Christian pastor): If you aren’t familiar with it, Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, symbolizing the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” It is marked with home decorations, shopping, fireworks, gifts, feasting, family gatherings, and more. This year, it is celebrated from Thursday, October 31, to Friday, November 1. It has become increasingly common for Hindus to invite their non-Hindu friends to participate in one or more of the festivities surrounding Diwali. So, should Christians accept? The answer, specifically for Diwali, is “No.” The reason is because this would be dabbling with the occult. Specifically, worshiping a false god or idol. Diwali is all of that and more.
As a cultural observer, it’s been interesting to watch how this has unfolded on the American scene. And not as a religious event, not as a Hindu event, but more of an almost Hindu-culture event, an Indian culture event, almost like a Greek Orthodox festival.
Diwali, which is anything but a mere celebration of Indian culture. It is a deeply spiritual event celebrating primarily two gods, worshiping two gods. Celebrating them, honoring them, calling on them. Specifically, the goddess Lakshmi and the god Ganesha (and then along with those, many others like Vishnu).
Make no mistake—Diwali is a celebration of Hindu gods and goddesses. And with all due respect to our Hindu friends, they have to understand that from the Christian faith perspective, this is a stark divide. Attending a celebration would involve the acknowledgment and worship of a false god, the honoring of false gods, and this we cannot do.
So when the invitation comes to participate, … politely, respectfully, decline.
More of the pastor’s analysis at source:
https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/dr-james-emery-white/why-christians-should-think-twice-before-attending-diwali-celebrations.html