Social: Is it proper to celebrate Diwali in ISKCON centers?

...and if so, please provide arguments

Our Mahamantra makes us to japa Rama and quite a few ISKCON temples have been celebrating 'Rama Navami' also. I do not know whether all the temples celebrate Diwali or not but celebration of Diwali has a very close connection with Rama. This is the day when Rama with his family had returned to his home after conquering Lanka and hence the celebrations. I feel that we bhaktas should also celebrate Diwali in each ISKCON temple, may be at a smaller scale to start with.

My fear is to do "new" things. Anybody can celebrate wathever they choose privately, thus the specific question about ISKCON.
Is there the certainty of Srila Prabhupada approving these changes?
With the current trend of hinduization of temples, my question is relevant to try and clarify the issue.
What is clear is that we are not propounding the hindu "tradition", we belong to Brahma Gaudiya sampradaya and we ought to follow our disciplic line in regards to celebrations.

so in one hand, Srila Prabhupada explains that Lord Caitanya participated in those festivals (we do not really know how the festivals were).
on another says that "Vaisnavas have nothing to do with this ceremony "
on another two that the temple can celebrate with lamps (like they do in India) mixed with Govardhana pooja...
Any thoughs?

I think a quote referring to Lord Caitanya assisting to the festival does not necessarily apply to our current situation.
What about "Vaisnavas have nothing to do with this ceremony "
Of course any ceremony in honor of Krishna is commendable and auspicious, my point is if has to be an official part of ISKCON festivities.

Hare Krishna.

The most important things here would be these points:-

1. Has the founder-acharya of ISKCON instituted these festivals in his temples or given provisions for them?
If yes, then it would have been reflected from 1966-1977 via directives or permission via letter, etc.
If it's absolutely a "yes", it would be clear via the above mediums.
If it's a leeway provided for circumstantially, then that too would be reflected via letters, etc.
If otherwise, then it's always best to be safe by not doing it.

2. It's not that if something is not celebrated in ISKCON temples, then it's wrong. The perspective here is what the Acharya has given for his movement, in terms of sadhana and sadhya. Anything else is part of a wider cultural phenomena, that's all.
It's not that it is right or wrong. It's just there, that's all. But a sishya's duty is to follow his Acharya in terms of his primary sadhana and observance.

3. Srila Prabhupada has presented many facets in his books ranging from siddhanta to cultural traits, both specifically Vaishnavic and generally Vedic. But, it's not that we take any of these and institute just because it's mentioned in his books.
In fact, what we should do is to abide by his immediate directives and stick to that. Many things may be said in books but what is directly instructed should be executed and the rest appreciated but not carried out.

4. In the case of Diwali, Srila Prabhupada has mentioned that it exists as a festival, citing the point of Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Other lines may celebrate it in the way that their Acharyas may have given and that is fine. But what our acharya has given is our life's mission and in this, we mean so dishonour for the others. But, we should stick to our own bbusiness and not merge both into one. Also, in the other letter, Srila Prabhupada has stated that Diwali may be celebrated with the lighting of lamps and the offering of special prasada to the Deities. So, generally, he did not emphasise this festival as a must but given certain cultural contexts, it may be observed in this manner. So, it's not wrong or right but it's not a very ssignificant point of emphasis for ISKCON's sadhana process as given by His Divine Grace.

5. Also, where Srila Prabhupada has mentioned that that "Dipavali or Devali is observed as new years day by certain mercantile community. The Vaisnavas have nothing to do with this ceremony but just on the last day after Devali the Vaisnavas observe Annakuta ceremony", let re-examine the preceding statement carefully: -

"Dipavali or Devali is observed as new years day by certain mercantile community. The Vaisnavas have nothing to do with this ceremony ...". To me, it appears that Srila Prabhupada is indicating that Vaisnavas do not observe the ceremony of observing Diwali as new years day as is the case with certain mercantile community. Other aspects like lighting the temple and offering prasadam are practices in line with devotional service because Deepotsava is also observed on other occasions and prasadam offering is a regular and indispensable part of Vaishnava culture in general and ISKCON culture in particular. But, what he describes as not Vaishnava practice is this observance of Diwali as new year and the first day of the mercantile year.

In line with all of his other statements, I would reconcile things in this way. In either case, I see that Srila Prabhupada has not banned Diwali but has not stressed it as fundamentally vital and a must. It may be had but in either case, it's not so important like the other observances such as Janmashtami and Govardhana Pooja.

Anyone can celebrate anything that they want but we cannot bring this attitude into the sadhana and sadhya process of a sampradaya. There are specific reasons why some festivals are emphasised, others forbidden and others provided for but not insisted upon and this rests with the Acharya who institutes these in his temples. The way to God for a disciple is to execute the instructions of his/her spiritual master and not entertain speculated or concocted versions of narrowness or liberality. We should not be concerned with praising or criticising other things beyond our primary spiritual sadhana. These exist as part of wider society and just remains as a state of affairs. It's not something to become involved with, both in terms of positive promotion or negative rejection.

My 2 cents' worth.


Your servant,
jai

Krpa-moya prabhu has recently written an article on his website justifying participation in Diwali festivals. The justification revolves around the idea that this is a 'preaching interface' with the local community, particularily as devotees are being invited to attend and speak at Diwali functions. He doesn't comment on holding Diwali in the temple. There is a related article justifying the the use of term 'Hindu' to describe the Vaisnava philosophy.

Articles at: http://deshika.wordpress.com/

I'm glad to see this topic being discussed. I would add that during Srila Prabhupada's presence,
a vaisnava calendar approved by Srila Prabhupada was mailed out each year to all temples right before Gaura Purnima. It included all of the festival days we were expected to observe. To my knowledge, Diwali, or Deepavali, never appeared on the list. Neither do I have any recollection of Diwali being celebrated in any of the temples I visited during those years (1970-1977).

Vaisnavas are not prohibited from observing the Diwali celebration, but Srila Prabhupada clearly did not intend to include it as part of our program to spread Krishna consciousness. Just my humble opinion.