The Brahma Kumaris (BK) Meditation Center - A Learning Center for Peace, Watertown, MA celebrated Diwali festival on Saturday, November 11, 2023 evening with much devotion and piety. With many lights around the atmosphere in the center was festive and joyful. A hall full of devotees along with the special guest speaker Dorothy Streinfeld gathered together to celebrate the festival of lights- Diwali.

The BK Meditation center invited everyone to re-ignite his/her inner light and connect to his/her inner treasures of peace, happiness, and unity through insightful talk, light entertainment, and reflective meditation. The program started with the warm welcome of the special guest speaker, devotees, and other invitees to a cheerful and inspiring event by Soni. Music, dance, speech, meditation were presented by the members of the BK center. A beautiful song was presented by the BK member was sweet, catchy, and uplifted the celebration of Deepavali moments with the God-devotees relationship. Brother Deva moderated a panel discussion on ‘What light means in different religions such as Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Christianity’. Two other members presented a dance that showed us how jealousy, greed, sorrow, and attachment could disturb our internal peace, and affects our goals. So, one should be able to suppress them by having love in his/her heart all the time because love is God, love is kind, love is beautiful and love patient. It does not either envy or boast or it does not make you feel proud. This was followed by the speech on the importance Deepavali in our life by the special guest of the event.

The guest speaker, B.K. Dorothy Streinfeld, who has been a member of the Brahma Kumaris for the past 38 years and serves as Directors of Programs at Peace Village Learning and Retreat Center in Haines Falls, NY. Sister Dorothy in her speech highlighted how Diwali fosters the inner cleaning and igniting inner light that protects against spiritual darkness. At present times, the world is on turmoil, we take this moment to nurture hope against understandable distrust, chaos, and despair, as we know that the smallest Diya can take away the darkness. She said that light is always the symbol of divinity, knowledge, purity while darkness is evil, sorrowful, ignorant. Diwali Diya therefore is a reminder to "Be the change you want to see in the world! The divine light of Diwali guide you on your path to spiritual enlightenment. For the peace in the world, she says, ‘Be the light. Ignite the light.’  She encouraged everyone to light another’s lamp with your own and let the river of love flow as you move on. The evening ended with a beautifully guided meditation, led by Sister Dorothy, which ignited and strengthened the flame of the soul in each of us. All the audiences were asked to light the lamp of another person in the hall with a big smile on their face and love in their eyes. After this all the audiences were given a Diwali sweet with a Diwali greeting card by sister Dorothy. After this, the BK Center volunteers served mouthwatering Prasadam to the devotees.

The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization acknowledges the intrinsic goodness of all people. It is a worldwide family of individuals from all walks of life who are committed to spiritual growth and personal transformation and believes inner growth and change are essential for the creation of a peaceful and just world.

For more information about the programs offered by the B.K. Learning Center for Peace, Watertown, MA or to learn the simple but powerful method of Raja Yoga meditation both on site and online, please visit its website, www.bkboston.org, or call 617-926-1230.