PRAYER SERVICE FOR DIWALI

Introduction

Welcoming – The faithful is received with sandal paste. The priest

is welcomed with an Arathi.

Bhajan

Celebrant: The people who walk in darkness have seen a dazzling

brightness. A great light has dawned in the east, mocking the sun
and the moon, putting the stars of heaven Christ the Lord. “In his
light we see light”. Enter without pretensions into this joyful
encounter with Him.
May the eyes of the Father rest upon your eyes, the love of
the Son throb in your heart and all its movements and the
comradeship of the Spirit walk with you.
All: Amen.
Commentator: Myriad little lamps illumining millions of our homes
proclaim the festival of lights. We rejoice with all the people of our
land and bring to the altar our own little lamps. Indian tradition
attributes the origin of Diwali to the coronation of Rama, as the king
of Ayodhya. On that night, it is said, there was illumination all over
the country. Another legend attributes the feast to the coronation of
the good king Vikramaditya. According to another legend, the feast
marks the destruction by Vishnu of the demon Naraka. All these
traditions reveal an underlying theme: Diwali is rejoicing at the
victory of good over the forces of evil, jnana over ajnana, sat over
asat.

Penitential Rite: The faithful accuse themselves of their being the

cause of darkness.

Commentator: As an expression of our deep sorrow for our

infidelities to the covenant with the lord, yearning for full fellowship
with him and others, and determined to make a total commitment
of ourselves to the designs of the lord let us do the panchanga
pranama.

Celebrant: May the god of peace who brought from the dead our
lord Jesus enable you to stand before him face to face. In his light,
there is no darkness. Bask in its shadow it is brighter than sun. May
its flames lick the hearth of your soul and purify it of dross and
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decay, equipping you with everything that is good through Jesus

Christ to whom be the glory for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Exchange the sign of peace.

Commentator: In the beginning when god created the universe,

the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered
everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was
moving over the water. God commanded “let there be light and
there was light.” God was pleased with what he saw. Then he
separated the light from darkness and he named the light ‘day’ and
the darkness night.

Lord, it is night. A sea of darkness engulfs us. Terror,

ignorance, unbelief, worries, poverty, sin and death. Destroy all
powers of darkness. Let the light of your resurrection shine and let
is be day.

Bhajan

Liturgy of the Word: Homage is paid to the Bible with double

arathi.(pushpa and dhupa).

Celebrant: Fountain of truth, knowledge and bliss, he who drinks of

your stream will not thirst. May he who quickens the intellect and
kindles the heart strengthen you with his power to proclaim the
saving word.

Commentator: As a sign of our openness to receive God’s word

into our life. We shall keep our palms open and turned upwards
resting on our knees.

First reading: 1 Jn: 1/5-10.

Bhajan
Gospel: Mt: 5/14-16 or Jn: 8/12.
Homily

Prayer of the Faithful

Celebrant: Jesus is the true light that enlightens every person. As we
celebrate the Feast of Lights let us ask Jesus the light of life to
penetrate our life.
Response: Jesus our light, guide us. (Spontaneous prayers).

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Concluding Prayer: We praise and thank you God our Father for
this day, the day in which we rejoice with our Hindu brethren and
strengthen our relationship with them. You have illumned the
universe with the sun and the moon and the stars and you have
illumined our lives with the greatest of lights- Jesus Christ. Grant
that each of us become bearers of Jesus and through us may Jesus
be known to our non-christian brethren. This we ask you through
Jesus your Son. Amen.

Final Blessing
Hymn