Celebrating religion: Diwali a festival of lights

Diwali (or Deepavali) - October 17th, 2009

Diwali, known as the ‘Festival of Lights, is a momentous celebration in the cultures of Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism. It is recognized as an official holiday in India.

The five-day festival takes place on the night of the new moon between October 13 and November 14. This year the opening will take place on October 17. On the Hindu calendar, this is end of the month of Ashwin and the beginning of the month of Kartika.

On the day of Diwali, many people wear new clothes, redecorate homes and share sweets and snacks.

Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day.

During the festival, people take to the streets, lighting “diyas” which are cotton-like string wicks nested in small clay pots filled with coconut oil, to symbolize the triumph of good over the evil within a person.

While Diwali is popularly known as the ‘festival of lights,' the most significant meaning is the “awareness of the inner light.” Central to Hindu philosophy is the belief that there is something beyond the physical body and mind, which is pure, infinite and eternal, called the Atman.


Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being on our birthday each year, Diwali is the celebration of this inner light.

Diwali is a favourite occasion among children as it is celebrated through beautiful firework displays, lights, flowers and the sharing of sweets.

Though the legends associated with the festival vary in different regions across India, the celebration still holds similar meaning for its participants.

The Times of India, a national newspaper in India, recently printed that “despite the mythological explanation one prefers, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple - and some not so simple - joys of life”.