Diwali: A Celebration of Light and Community at Lotus Terminals
As Diwali approaches, the Lotus Terminals team reflects on the significance of this cherished festival. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is celebrated by millions around the world, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It’s a time for families to come together, share joyous traditions, and spread love and happiness.
For many team members at Lotus Terminals, Diwali holds deep personal meaning. Through their stories and experiences, we gain insight into how this festival unites them, not only with their families but also with the wider community.
The Spirit of Diwali
At its core, Diwali is a time for reflection, renewal, and celebration. Originating in India, it holds significance across various religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The holiday is marked by lighting oil lamps, known as diyas, which signify the victory of light over darkness. Homes are cleaned and adorned with colorful rangoli designs made of colored powders or flowers. Fireworks light up the sky, and sweets are shared among friends and family.
Ruby Sebastian, who works in operations at Lotus Terminals, highlights the excitement that Diwali brings, sharing, “Diwali is a very special festival in India, and people start preparing months in advance. It includes sweet-making and decorating homes. For me, I love Diwali because it brings joy, seeing fireworks, lots of decorative lights, and bringing family together for celebration.”
For Ruby, the festival is about more than just the beautiful lights; it’s about the sense of togetherness that comes with the preparations. “We prepare rangoli in the center of our gardens or outside our doors as a way to welcome prosperity and good luck,” she adds, emphasizing the importance of family and tradition in the celebrations.
Victory of Good Over Evil
Priyanka Saini, also part of the operations team at Lotus Terminals, shares her personal perspective: “Diwali for me means the victory of good over evil. On this day, we see only lights all around us, and similarly, Diwali brings only happiness into our lives.” This sentiment echoes the deeper spiritual meaning behind the festival, which celebrates the triumph of positive forces over negative ones.
Priyanka’s description of the day captures the warmth and happiness that is shared among loved ones: “We hug each other, wish each other well, feed each other sweets, and celebrate this festival happily.” It’s a time when differences are set aside, and the focus is on unity, peace, and joy.
Family Traditions
As Sairaj Shinde, from Lotus Terminals’ asset mobilization team, explains, “For me, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Families decorate the entrances with colorful rangoli made using colored powders, flowers, and diyas.”
Sairaj emphasizes that, along with the religious & cultural significance, “Diwali is incomplete without delicious sweets and snacks. It’s fun!” Food and feasting are integral to the festival, and like many others, Sairaj looks forward to indulging in special treats shared with family and friends.
Diwali: A Time for Family and Community
Family is at the heart of Diwali, and for Azeez Dhanoa, the festival is all about coming together with loved ones. “Diwali is about family coming together. It symbolizes staying away from darkness, hence it being the festival of light,” Azeez explains. He notes that the lighting of candles and fireworks adds to the festive atmosphere, bringing warmth and brightness to the celebrations.
Similarly, Ricky Bal, the COO of Lotus Terminals, reflects on the growing importance of Diwali in his life: “Within the last 10 years, the impact of the holiday has really hit me. It’s become more important to me. The significance to India is the same as Christmas is to the Western world. There is both a religious and cultural component.”
For Sikhs like Ricky, Diwali also corresponds with the celebration of Bandi Chor Diwas, a holiday that commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from imprisonment. “It’s a time for friends and family to get together. Lots of food. The significance of light over darkness is central to the celebration. Here in Vancouver, people attend temple and then family and friends get together and enjoy sweets,” Ricky adds.
Diwali in Vancouver: A Growing Tradition
One of the remarkable aspects of Diwali is its ability to unite people from diverse backgrounds. For the team at Lotus Terminals, this holiday serves as a reminder of the importance of community and the value of togetherness. In Vancouver, where many team members live and work, Diwali is increasingly celebrated as part of the city’s rich multicultural fabric.
Ricky is particularly proud of how Diwali has become recognized in public spaces: “It’s pretty cool that this has become more mainstream. The Vancouver Canucks recognize it in-game and with a special commemorative jersey. The community comes together, and they all light a candle at the same time. There’s a real sense of unity and pride in celebrating Diwali here.”
Diwali’s Enduring Impact
At Lotus Terminals, Diwali is not just a cultural celebration but a reflection of the company’s core values—family, unity, and prosperity. For many, the festival offers an opportunity to reflect on the past year, express gratitude for their blessings, and look forward to a new year filled with hope and positive energy.
As Diwali approaches, the team members at Lotus Terminals eagerly anticipate the joy and togetherness that comes with the holiday. Whether it’s the vibrant rangoli designs, or the sharing of sweets, Diwali brings light into the lives of everyone who celebrates it. At its heart, the festival reminds us of the importance of family, community, and the triumph of good over evil—a message that resonates deeply with the entire Lotus Terminals family.
As Ruby, Priyanka, Sairaj, Azeez, and Ricky have shared, Diwali is more than just a festival of lights. It’s a time of renewal, reflection, and most importantly, connection. And for the team at Lotus Terminals, these values are at the core of what makes their work and their lives so meaningful.
Happy Diwali from all of us at Lotus Terminals!
