Deepavali ki Shubhkamnayein!

As is the case with many Indian festivals, Diwali signifies different things to the different peoples across the region.

In northern India Diwali celebrates Rama’s homecoming to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana and his coronation as king. In Gujarat, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali.

Diwali is marked by the lighting of small oil lamps which are placed around the home and in courtyards and gardens. The celebration of the festival is usually accompanied by the exchange of candy, the wearing of new clothes and by fireworks. It is also traditional for businesses throughout the Indian subcontinent to mark the day after Diwali as the first day of the new fiscal year

While the reasons for celebrating Diwali may vary, some common threads prevail, such as marking the victory of good over evil and the eternal renewal of life.