Celebrating Diwali: The Festival of Lights

BASW UK Vice-Chair, Neeta Baicher looks back on her memories of Diwali

In this blog, BASW UK Vice-Chair, Neeta Baicher looks back on her memories of Diwali and reflects on the festival's significance and importance.

Diwali or Dīpĝvali is a significant faith festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. It is also popularly known as the "Festival of Lights" and is a lunar-calendar based event that occurs between mid-October and mid-November. The word "Diwali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" which translates into "row of lamps". 

The festival of Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over dark, good over evil and knowledge over darkness. Diwali is on Monday 24 October 2022.

Festivals and holidays go hand in hand in India. Everyone joins in as the food and sweets are delicious. Any excuse to enjoy.

Shops decorated a fortnight before the festival. Selling delicious freshly prepared traditional sweets, dry fruits gift wrapped and fireworks. Wow! eye catching displays so children cannot resist.

One day before the Diwali my parents would visit members of family and friend to distribute gifts of traditional sweets and dry fruits.  The house was busy with preparation, there were visitors who joined the family. Life was happy because we made other people happy too.

On the evening of Diwali packs of fresh sweets, candles and Divas were opened. We as a family offered prayers and my mother lit the first candle. We then decorated the house with candles and Divas. The whole place looked lovely with shining lights. Fireworks were amazing.  Dad making sure we kept at a distance. Not loosing his temper. Surprise!

A memory now but a very sweet memory Diwali is not the same, but we do light candles, offer our prayers, and join community events.  

Happy Diwali all.

  • Hindu tradition : Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu calendar and there are multiple reasons why Hindus celebrate this festival. The most popular narrative, based in the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana, is of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana returning to their kingdom Ayodhya after defeating demon king Ravana. 
  • Jain tradition, Diwali marks the attainment of enlightenment by Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism who laid down the central tenets of the Jain religion as it is practiced today. 
  • Sikh tradition, Diwali commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, who was imprisoned by the Mughal emperor Jahangir. When Guru Hargobind arrived in Amritsar, his devotees lit thousands of oil lamps to celebrate his return. For Sikhs, this day is known as Bandi Chhor Divas (day of release from prison.