Today is the first of the annual Hindu and Sikh holiday Diwali. The five-day holiday is sometimes known as the “festival of lights” and the word “Diwali” stems from the Sanskrit word “Deepavali” which means “row of lights.”
Hindus strongly believe that there is something pure and infinite beyond our physical bodies called Atman. The awareness of this light is a way of going beyond the ignorance (darkness) of our physical selves. Therefore, Diwali is also known as the “festival of inner light” and is the celebration of this inner, eternal light similar to how birthdays are a celebration of our physical selves.
Diwali is celebrated in many Hindu counties and is the most important holiday. It is, of course, cerebrated with lots of lights and laughter with loved ones. However, there is a strict set of rituals that must be performed on each of Diwali’s five days.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Diwali is an official holiday in India, Malaysia, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Guyana.
- Gambling during Diwali is considered to bring good luck for the year ahead.
- The origins of Diwali are unknown, but some historians suspect that it may have started as a type of Harvest festival which were popular in ancient times.
- Diwali is often associated with the Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.
- Diwali greetings vary from country to country, but “Shubh Deepavali” is the customary greeting and literally means “Have an auspicious Diwali.”