William King 
Oc. 25, 1992 
William A. King, 85, Of Arthur, Ill., Formerly Of Forty Fort, Died Oct. 25 
After Returning From A Two-week Vacation In Canada.

Expensive Snag 
Stands In Way 
Of 'super Store' 
********************* 
Illustration 
13.5 Acre Tract Of Land 
Proposed For Site Of

Wednesday, December 16, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1D QUICK WORDS: CHRISTMAS SHAH
CHRISTIAN HINDU DIWALI 





HINDU GREETING -- Jyotsana Shah creates a greeting with sand at her
Kingston home, a custom she and her Hindu family observe on Diwali, the
five-day Indian holiday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ******************************* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An area Indian family gleans the benefits of the Hindu and &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Christian cultures &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories on holiday
traditions in Northeastern Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By JENNIFER LEARN &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Times Leader Staff Writer &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 KINGSTON -- Jyotsana Shah kneeled at the entrance to her Hamilton Avenue
home and began sprinkling sand on the linoleum. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She used the colored sand to create a candle and write the words "Diwali"
and "New Year." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I leave this here during the holiday every year," she said while walking
barefoot across her blue living room carpet. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Most Hindus place the greeting at the main entrance to the home at Diwali,
which falls in the last week of October or the first week of November. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Diwali means light. It is the Christmas of Indian people," she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Diwali begins a new religious and fiscal year for Hindus. During this time
Hindus rejoice the victory of light over darkness. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Diwali lasts five days, Shah said. The first day is the best time to buy
silver and to invest money. On the second day Hindus pray to their goddesses
for health, wealth and wisdom. The new Indian fiscal year begins on the third
day, which symbolizes new business. The Hindu Lord Mahavir died early in the
morning of the fourth day. Hindus celebrate the new year on the fifth day,
Diwali day, when he returned as Lord Rama. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Diwali day the Shahs set off fireworks in their front yard. Shah
decorates her front door with a garland of leaves and flowers. The family also
travels to a Hindu temple in the Allentown area. Hindus exchange "Happy
Diwali" or "Salmubark" greetings to each other. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shah's vegetarian family feasts on sweet cream of wheat, dried fruit,
rolls, vegetables, rice, beans and sweet noodles during Diwali. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The Indian people welcomed Lord Rama by decorating and lighting their
houses and distributing sweets," she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But visitors to Shah's home Dec. 25 will also find a Christmas tree
decorated with tinsel and lights because her family also acknowledges the
Christian Christmas. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Culture is something that can form our thoughts and images. I believe both
cultures make us what we are, so we have to pick up the good things from
both," she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So Shah and her husband, Vinay, have blended traditions from both
backgrounds for their sons, Hitesh, 17, and Tapan, 16. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It gives me a fulfillment that I can retain the cultures of two different
worlds, to still be able to practice the customs of my mother country," Tapan
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While the two holidays are unique, they share some basic symbolism and
customs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hindus and Christians celebrate the arrival of their lord on the holiday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lord Rama returned to Adodhya on Diwali. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem
on Christmas. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The holidays are also a time for families to come together to attend
religious ceremonies, eat good food and to exchange presents. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Like many families, the Shahs bond during the holidays. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It is the only time we sit together to do prayer for friends and family
and God and what good He gives us," she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We always keep religion alive in our home. We are grasping goodness and
try to be like both Jesus and Diwali because they are good."

Celebrating The Best Of Two Worlds 
***************************** 
Photos 
Times Leader/pete Wilcox 
"culture Is Something That Can Form Our Thoughts And Images, I Believe Both 
Cultures Make Us What We Are, So We Have To Pick Up The Good Things From 
Both."

Celebrating The Best Of Two Worlds ***************************** Photos Times Leader/pete Wilcox "culture Is Something That Can Form Our Thoughts And Images, I Believe Both Cultures Make Us What We Are, So We Have To Pick Up The Good Things From Both."