Diwali...

The Festival of Lights. The triumph of good over evil. That Time of the Year When All Indians Get Together and Eat and Do Lots of Fireworks. Whichever way you look at it, Diwali is the one time in a year when entire families get together to rejoice, laugh and make merry.

There are many stories for Diwali and its meaning, but ultimately they all lead to one thing - the triumph of good over evil. We rejoice the death of Ravaana, the ten-headed demon; the saving of Goddess Lakshmi by her husband, Lord Vishnu, from the evil clutches of King Bali; the death of the evil lion demon, Narasimha, by Lord Krishna; and on it goes. It is a day to destroy the bitterness, the hurts and pains of the past, and look forward to and rejoice a brighter (pun intended) future. So indeed, it is fitting then, that the day after Diwali is the beginning of the Hindu New Year. And it is also fitting that we have as much light as possible in the form of pretty diyas, for various different reasons: to keep darkness (evil) away, to invoke and invite the blessings of Goddesses Lakshmi (for wealth and prosperity) and Saraswati (for knowledge and culture), and to generally live in a brighter present for a brighter future.

Diwali is a magical time, full of love, light and of course, food! Platters of sweets, mouthwatering savouries, and everything in between is feasted on!

Love, Light, Laughter; Peace, Prosperity; Fun, Feast Family and Friends - for me, this is the essence of Diwali.


Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak (Happy New Year) to all those who celebrate!