Monday, October 24th is the holy day of Diwali, the biggest and brightest of all Hindu festivals. It is also a national holiday of India and is celebrated by people of other faith traditions in that area, including Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Diwali or “Deepavali” is known as the Festival of Lights. It is marked by five days of celebration, which literally illuminates all with its brilliance and dazzles all with its joy. Each of the five days in the festival is marked by a different tradition or ritual. Diwali is the celebration of life and its enjoyment and goodness.
One of the most significant spiritual meanings of Diwali is "the awareness of the inner light." Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind that is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Diwali celebrates this inner light. When this inner light becomes known, it can outshine darkness, remove obstacles, dispel ignorance, and awaken individuals to their true nature. Diwali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. The traditional greeting for a Happy Diwali in Hindi is, “Shubh Diwali.”
If you would like to share more information with your children, please go to: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali for ways to learn about the five days of celebration. To make the rangoli designs, go to https://www.diwalifestival.org/diwali-rangoli.html for ideas!
