As the end of October nears, there are many across the world who do not look forward to Halloween, but rather, Diwali, the festival of light. Diwali is a festival celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, and is especially culturally significant for people all across South Asia.
For Hindus, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, during which he defeated the demon king Ravana. The people of Ayodhya lit lamps and decorated the city to welcome them back, a tradition that continues today with the lighting of diyas and lanterns.
But Hindus aren’t the only ones who celebrate Diwali, the Sikhs celebrate Diwali to honour the release of Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, from imprisonment in 1619.
Diwali is primarily celebrated in South Asia. Families all visit temples or gurdwaras, participate in gift giving, as well as handing out greetings to wish others a happy Diwali. Even people that do not celebrate Diwali, such as Christians, Muslims and atheists often participate in the festivities of those who do celebrate, being a chance for the whole community to unite.
I talked to people in the community here in Hampton to see what they will be doing during the festive season of Diwali.
I interviewed Priti Jejurikar, a Hindu who will be celebrating Diwali this year.
What do you do every Diwali?
Firstly, I start off the day by showering early in the morning at an auspicious time, as it is believed that dirt brings negative energy. Then, I anoint myself with ‘ubatan’, a herbal ayurvedic powder.
The entire family participates in cleaning our home for Lakshmi's arrival. However, during Diwali, it's believed that you should not sweep your floors as it ‘sweeps away’ the wealth.
We also decorate the home with lights and diyas, as well as rangoli, all greeting the Goddess Lakshmi to our home. On Diwali, it is of the utmost importance that we leave all our doors open and all the lights on. The belief is that the Goddess Lakshmi will knock on each door, and if it is closed, she will leave and not bring blessings to your home.
Lastly in the evening, I celebrate with my family. We share good food and sweets we made earlier with our friends and family, however on this auspicious day, we are not allowed to eat meat. This is also when we do pooja - or prayer - to grow closer to the Goddess Lakshmi, so she will bless us and the next year will be happy and prosperous. Traditionally, we also do a pooja of any jewellery and money in the house to bring wealth for the coming year. Finally, we end the day with fireworks.
I also interviewed Manpreet Bonbois, a Punjabi Sikh who celebrates Diwali.
How do you celebrate Diwali?
As a Sikh, we share many cultural practices with Hindus. We also stress the importance of cleaning your home, as well as decorating with lights. In the evening, we go to the gurdwara and pray, followed by langar - free meals served in the gurdwara.
Diwali's cultural significance unites diverse communities across the globe. Celebrated by millions, it transcends religious boundaries, bringing together people of various backgrounds. After tragedies like the 2020 Delhi riots, I hope that the festival of Diwali this year, through its rich traditions and communal spirit, reminds the South Asian diaspora of our shared values of love, hope, and unity, and bridges a path to a world where we can all live harmoniously together.
