Diwali

What

Diwali, or Deepavali, is a five-day festival built around lighting diyas (oil lamps) in homes, streets, and temples. Families clean and decorate their homes, exchange sweets, and gather for evening prayers before the main night of celebration.

Why

The festival marks several stories at once depending on region — most widely, Rama's return to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, welcomed home by rows of lamps lighting his path. Across traditions, the throughline is the same: light overcoming darkness, knowledge overcoming doubt.

Preparation

• Clean and declutter the home in the days before
• Set up a small altar or puja space with a diya
• Arrange rangoli patterns at the entrance
• Prepare or source traditional sweets to share

Mantra

Asato Ma Sadgamaya, Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya — lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light.