Diwali: The Festival of Lights Begins the Five Day Hindu and Sikh Celebration
Diwali marks not just a public festival but a personal practice of awakening. In Hindu philosophy the Atman is described as the pure, infinite essence within every person, a light that outshines the physical body. The awareness of this inner light helps transcend ignorance and guides daily choices toward compassion, generosity, and integrity. The celebration, known as the festival of inner light, invites people to reflect on the self and the relationships that shape life. In Canada and the United States, many families observe Diwali through shared meals, storytelling, and service to neighbors, turning the holiday into a bridge between cultures. Britannica notes that Diwali carries deep spiritual resonance for Hindus and Sikhs alike.
Diwali is celebrated across many Hindu communities and is the year’s most important festival. Homes are swept clean and decorated, small oil lamps or diyas line doorways, and families welcome light into their spaces. The celebration centers on Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, with prayers that seek health, harmony, and abundance. Each of the five days carries its own focus: Dhanteras opens the period with auspicious purchases to invite prosperity; Naraka Chaturdasi recalls the triumph of good over evil; Diwali night features Lakshmi Puja and the brightest displays; Govardhan Puja honors divine protection and the harvest cycle; Bhai Dooj celebrates the bond between sisters and brothers. While practices vary by region, the shared theme remains the arrival of light that dispels darkness and invites renewal, a motif that resonates in households from Mumbai to Toronto and to homes across the United States.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Diwali is an official public holiday in many countries, including India, Malaysia, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and Guyana.
- In some traditions, Diwali gambling is believed to invite luck for the year ahead, and card games may be a feature of celebrations in certain communities.
- Scholars trace Diwali’s origins to ancient harvest festivals and to stories celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, though the precise beginnings remain debated. Britannica notes that Diwali carries deep spiritual resonance for Hindus and Sikhs alike.
- Diwali is closely linked to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, whom worshippers greet with prayers for wealth, health, and wellbeing.
- Diwali greetings vary by country and language, with Shubh Deepavali commonly used to wish an auspicious festival and bring a sense of shared goodwill.