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By Abhidnya Mule

Every year, Indians from all over the world celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights!

Don’t be confused!  Not all people of Indian ethnicity celebrate this holy holiday.  It is a Hindu holiday (Hinduism is the primary religion of India; there are Muslims and Christians in India as well).

There are so many ways to celebrate diwali!  We set off fireworks on Diwali and light up lamps called diyas. Lighting diyas enlightens the house and makes it feel more welcoming.  We also make rangolis, which is mandala art made out of sand.  These designs decorate the front of our house. 

Fire is sacred in Hinduism-we constantly use diyas to pray.  Diwali is a time of reverence-we offer food to the gods, clean murtis (statues of the gods) and sing religious hymns called aartis.  Diyas are used year-round in worship.

Diwali is celebrated to celebrate the homecoming of Ram (which is the god Vishnu brought down to Earth in the form of incantation), Sita (Ram’s wife), and Lakshman (Ram’s brother) after fourteen years of exile. Ram had killed a dangerous demon/creature called Ravan.  Ravan was a ten-headed and twenty-armed demon.  Ram risked his own life and ended up saving millions more.  After 87 days of battle, Ram defeated Ravan.  The triumph of good over evil plays a key role in the festival of lights.

Making food is another (and more delicious) way we celebrate Diwali.  A popular delicacy that you’ll probably recognize is samosas, a pastry-coated dish stuffed with mashed potatoes and spices.  We also make sweets like gulab jamun, which is a spongy-shaped ball, soaked in sweet syrup.

If you're intrested in making some delicious samosas, make sure to read our samosa article by Ayush Nair!

Diwali is a fun, but also sacred time of year.  It’s a time for many Hindus to feel the devotion warming our hearts.  As we welcome the Hindu New Year that follows Diwali, we wish peace, health, and good faith to all who celebrate and more.