Happy Diwali

Tomorrow is Diwali, our main Indian Holiday. Every year my parents host a party and pooja (prayer) at our house. Unfortuantely this year, due to some health issues my dad has been having, we had to cancel the party, but we will will be having the prayer potion. I am lucky I get to be home with my parents to celebrate this occasion. I wish my siblings could be home, but it is hard since it is in the middle of the week. I miss them very much during these times when we can't be together. Hopefully next year, all of us can be together!

Happy Diwali to everybody!

Here is some information on what Diwali is:


Diwali, also called Deepavali or Divali, is a major Hindu festival that is very significant in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Known as the "Festival of Lights," it symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional dīpa (earthen lamp, as illustrated). Fireworks are associated with the festival.

Diwali is a colloquial name used in North India, while the festival is formally called Deepavali(= theepam + oli ), and is called in South India as such.

Diwali is celebrated for five consecutive days at the end of Hindu month of Ashwayuja. It usually occurs in October/November, and is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals in India. Diwali comes exactly twenty days after Dussehra. Hindus and Sikhs alike regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. For Hindus it is one of the most important festivals, and beginning of the year in some Hindu calendars. There are several beliefs regarding the origin of the holiday. The most repeated version is that Hindus celebrate Diwali to mark the time when Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana. Some also view it as the day Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura or in honor of the day Bali went to rule the nether-world, obeying the order of Vishnu. It is also a significant festival for the Sikh faith. In India, Diwali is now considered to be more of a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith.