Festival of Lights

The festival of lights has arrived, a celebration that creates joy and festivity throughout communities. The festival celebrates the victory of good vs. evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. The celebration marks a new begging, and represents all the good virtues we seek such as forgiveness, love and knowledge. The festival is celebrated by the Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities.

For the Hindu community, Diwali is spread out over five days, with each day marking a historic event in the Hindu calendar. The third day marks the celebration of Diwali, celebrating the return of Lord King Rama after defeating the demon King Ravana, showing us that good always defeats evil.

The Sikh community celebrate the release of there sixth guru, Shiri Guru Hargobind Singh Ji, and 52 other princes in 1619 who were imprisoned by Emperor Jahangir. As for the Jain community, the festival is a symbolic representation of the knowledge that was given by Lord Mahavira for the peace and welfare of all living beings.

Whilst all three religions celebrate the festival for different historical events and myths, they all spiritually mark the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.

To celebrate the festival Hindus and Jains hold prayers at temples and give out sweets known as Mithai. On the evening of Diwali, houses are filled with candles and rangoli designs to welcome the god Laxmi into there homes. For the Sikh Community, to mark the return of Guru Hargobind, the golden temple in Indian Punjab is lit with thousands of light during Diwali as Sikhs pay tribute.

Diwali celebrations are held all across the UK, with huge community festivals in Leicester and Trafalgar Square, holding firework shows as well as professional performers and local musicians & dancers. The festival is celebrated in Britain with great enthusiasm, with many local councils holding huge Diwali celebrations for the community.

The celebration for Hindus marks the beginning of a new year, a chance for them to have a fresh start and turn over a new leaf. The celebrations have also over the years been celebrated by many-non Hindus, who celebrate Hinduism on this occasion demonstrating how communities can come together.

We here at OBV would like to wish you all a very Happy Diwali and a prosperous new year.

Roshni Vekereya