Montville Township Police Department’s Statement
With Diwali coming up this October, I want the residents and citizens to be aware that a common symbol of this holiday is a Diwali swastika. This symbol is known to date back to 3000 BCE. A symbol of good fortune and good wishes, the swastika is a holy symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The word “swastika” comes from the Sanskrit words su (good) and ati (to prevail). In Hinduism, the right-hand swastika is a sign of the sun and auspiciousness, while the left-hand version symbolizes the night and the goddess. Understanding the concerns people may have seeing this symbol being displayed on cars and houses, we wanted to inform all of you that there is good reason you may see it more frequently this month because of Diwali October 31-November 1. This post is in light of our police department already fielding calls regarding people seeing this symbol on cars and houses. We are trying to eliminate any unwarranted hostility towards any person displaying this for their religious purposes.
