Nov. 4 marked the first day of Diwali or Deepavali. A five day religious and cultural holiday, Diwali — also known as The Festival of Lights — is a national holiday in India, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists (notably Newar Buddhists) worldwide. Although the interpretation of Diwali’s origin story varies by region and religion, the common thread is a celebration of good prevailing evil.
Here are some ways people celebrate throughout the five days:
- People deep clean their homes and buy something new like gold, silver, gadgets, clothes, kitchen utensils, etc.
- People decorate their homes by designing patterns made of colored powder on their floor, called rangoli and lighting clay lamps, called diyas.
- People pray, wear their new or best clothes, gather for feasts, and exchange gifts/sweets with family, friends, and neighbors.
- People celebrate the bond between sisters and brothers.
- People light LOTS of fireworks!
A bill, named the Deepavali Day Act, recently was introduced in the House of Representatives to declare Diwali a federal holiday.
Happy Diwali to our friends and colleagues. We wish you a festival of joy, light, and hope!
In solidarity,
Kayla Miller
Technical Assistant
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
k.miller1@hvcc.edu
Published: Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:00:29 +0000 by k.miller1