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On behalf of the World Council of Churches (WCC), I send you fraternal greetings of joy and good will on the occasion of Diwali – “the festival of lights.” As you observe this auspicious time through the lighting of lamps, may your peace and prosperity be all the more complete, and may the light of Diwali bring you enlightenment, purity, healing, joy, and peace.
The age-old reality of Hinduism is that unity comes from diversity. As you celebrate the many Diwalis in the land of India and all over the world, you are embracing each other's cultural and local traditions, and you welcome this diversity with joy.
We live in a world that is torn apart by division and discrimination. As the WCC, we seek to discern ways of confronting these sins, and we see the need for the transformation of external structures nurturing our internal will. The “rekindling the light of awareness within” is a path towards rediscovering the interconnectedness of our common humanity as a divine gift.
In these challenging times, it is vital that we establish a strong foundation from which to engage in meaningful acceptance of, and exchange of ideas across our differences, and to foster the peaceable and renewing spirit inherent in all religions.
I hope that the light of Diwali you celebrate will contribute towards overcoming the darkness and devastation of our time, and that it will purify every human being and all of creation.
The World Council of Churches understands that our global context needs to reimagine of the idea of service in terms of solidarity, especially interreligious solidarity, where we as people of faith serve side-by-side, driven by common values. In that regard, the World Council of Churches values the longstanding relationship with our Hindu partners. May this relationship translate into interreligious solidarity in service of a wounded humanity and a broken earth. I am confident that together our continued mutual efforts to promote understanding through diversity and cooperation among communities around the world.
As you light Diwali lamps in your homes, streets, and in your hearts, may light and love flow into entire communities to heal divisions as a divine grace.
I wish you many joyous celebrations! Happy Diwali.
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
