Halloween, a tradition sparked by the early celtic celebration of Samhain, falls on the 31st of October yearly.
You’ll see excited children wandering the streets, knocking on doors and delightedly claiming handfuls of offered candy.
Every year, houses groan under the weight of the spookiest decorations: wispy layers of cobwebs to terrifying, animatronic zombies.
And young and old alike enjoy dressing up, be it harry potter or a zombie, there’s a costume out there for everyone.
The 31st is an evening combining joy, adventure and spookiness, one I’m sure everyone looks forward to.
But it seems this year, bad luck has decided to roam the night of Halloween, targeting the hindu (even sikh and jain) community of London.
The festival of lights, otherwise known as Diwali, changes its date yearly depending on the new moon and hindu lunar calendar.
And unfortunately, this year, it falls on the 31st of October.
On Diwali, many people partake in a puja as soon as the sun has set, lighting candles and praying to the goddess Durga for wealth and prosperity.
The evening is often followed with fireworks.
Normally, it is a beautiful sight to see, flashes and bursts of colour exploding across the dark night sky.
However this year, it poses a problem.
In the UK, there are around 1 million hindus.
And sadly, their Diwali celebrations coincide with Halloween and many are forced to make a decision on which to celebrate.
Children are ringing up their friends, tearfully letting them know that they can’t go out.
Teenagers are canceling on any halloween plans, be it a horror movie marathon or a costume party.
And adults are throwing away the bowls of candy they had prepared to hand out, all the while comforting their children.
It truly is bad luck, of all the days it could be.
I hope all those that celebrate Diwali out there are still able to celebrate Halloween, in any shape or form.
