Celebrating Diwali
Diwali is the festival of new beginnings celebrated by over a billion people. Learn more about this annual Festival of Lights.
Written by Matt Krinke, Accounting Manager - Olympic Steel (Minneapolis, MN)
Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights celebrated by over a billion Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, around the world. Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning “row of lights.” Diwali is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, and for some, also coincides with harvest and new year celebrations. The festival falls between mid-October and mid-November but changes each year, because it is set by the lunar calendar. In 2024, the Festival of Lights will be celebrated on Friday, November 1.
Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in India and is also widely celebrated in Nepal, Malaysia, and Fiji. The city of Leicester, in the United Kingdom, holds one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India. Every year, tens of thousands of people gather in the streets to enjoy vibrant shows of light, music, and dancing. Homes, businesses, and public spaces are lit up with diyas (oil lamps made from clay) and fireworks displays abound.
For many people, Diwali honors the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. The lights and lamps are said to help Lakshmi find her way into peoples’ homes, bringing prosperity in the year to come. People gather with their families, dressing up in new clothes, exchanging gifts, and indulging in delicious traditional food. It is also a time to clean and decorate your home.
Despite its deep religious significance, Diwali today is a cultural festival observed by people regardless of faith. Diwali celebrates the rich and glorious past and teaches its observers to uphold the true values of life. All over the world, people celebrate Diwali with great excitement and enthusiasm. Everyone has their own way of celebrating this festival and even though their belief in it may be different, the joy it brings to people's lives is what binds everyone together.
