For BAPS Temple in Bartlett, it's time to party like it's 2065

Maybe a decade ago Bartlett wouldn't be thought of as an ideal location to celebrate the Indian holiday of Diwali.

But that was before work finished on the BAPS Hindu Temple in Bartlett. Four years after the temple opened its doors to devotees, the celebration is growing.

"We want our traditions to continue to the next generation," said Harish Patel, a BAPS volunteer.

The five-day festival began Friday, and the folks at the Bartlett temple closed out the holiday Tuesday night with celebrations featuring fireworks and traditional ceremonies. Today, though, brings a new celebration.

Diwali falls on different dates of our Gregorian calendar, in either October or November. Also depending on the region of India, the final day of the festival marks the end of the year. That means today would be the first day of year 2065 on the BAPS' calendar.

Patel said today's New Year event at BAPS will feature more than 2,000 items. All will be vegetarian, as Hindu tradition mandates. And these won't be just the items seen under the buffet heat lamps on Devon Avenue, Patel said. Hindus, Sikhs and Jains living in places like the Philippines and Malaysia will bring dishes influenced by their surroundings.

BAPS stands for Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, one of the many sects of Hinduism. Patel said this year's celebrations are the temple's biggest observance since it opened in 2004. Students from local schools spent the last month working on life-size dioramas for an art exhibition. Patel said there was a focus on values and family togetherness.

Patel points out more than 1/6th of the world's population observes the holiday, albeit all in their own ways.

Some Hindus prefer to celebrate the religious aspect, recognizing how the virtuous god Rama slays the evil demon Ravana and comes home. That's the basic story, though the tale differs in various parts of India.

Gift-giving, including sharing sweets or buying new clothes, is also part of the tradition. Another staple is the row of lights placed outside of homes so Lakshimi, the goddess of prosperity, can find her way into people's homes.