Diwali, also known as Deepavali and the festival of lights, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrating the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest new moon of the Hindu Calendar.
Before Diwali night, people clean and decorate their homes. They dress up in new clothes, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their homes. They also participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. There are fireworks, celebrating, and visiting with family and friends. A family feast includes mithai (sweets) and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Diwali is a time where everyone comes together to honor the light in each other.
You described what Dawali is very well. The pictures are so beautiful. My favorite pictures are the third picture and the last one. It must have been so fun to see all those candles and fireworks. I hope I can go to India and see Dawali someday.
Are the sweets in the picture traditional Mithai? What are they made of?
The festival of Diwali sounds so beautiful and colorful! It also sounds like a very big deal to the people of India as well. Your last picture looked amazing.
Diwali looks like it’s fun. The preparations are huge, so it must be big right? I don’t know much about this, so it’s fun to learn about it.
I really like the part about food. I bet it is really good!
I love the pictures that you took. You made something from their everyday life unique and special. It really captures how colorful India is. I hope you are having a great time in India!
Dawali sounds amazing! All the pictures are wonderful, my favorite one is the second photo of the rainbow dust. It sounds so wonderful, and magical to have a holiday of lights. It reminds me of the Forth Of July. A feast of sweets sounds enchanting, I love sweets!
I think this festival looks very cool and very fun to watch. Lots of lights and cool colors. I think it is very cool why they celebrate it also.
I loved your pictures, and it must be so cool seeing that. I want to go there when I get the chance!
WOW! That sounds so cool. I really liked how you described it. The pictures were really good.
Wow, that looks like an awesome experience. It’s so beautiful, I bet it looks way better in the flesh though. How did you guys celebrate? Did you go somewhere?
It must have been amazing. Did you put out any candles?
Diwali must be a really beautiful holiday in India. I hope you are having a wonderful time in India. We miss you!
I celebrated this so it relates to me!
These pictures are amazing. They are so colorful and capture the moment so well. I hope I can go to India one day and see this in person.
All of these pictures are gorgeous! I liked how you used great detail to tell and describe Diwali and what it is.
Patti,
Your pictures and writings make me feel as if I am on your journey too! What a beautiful experience to share with your mom. Safe travels home!
That looks like hard work and yummy food! I know I would love Diwali.
Diwali sounds like a great holiday. Recognizing the light in others is important. I think your photos are beautiful and I hope I can someday experience seeing all the lights and candles shinning.
WOW, that made me speechless for a little. It’s so beautiful there. I bet it’s good to see your mother too. Thanks for all the pictures.
My little sister has a friend who is Indian in origin, and when her friend didn’t come, she thought that there was no school because of Diwali.
The pictures are amazing. Was the festival beautiful? I bet it was.
All of your pictures are so beautiful! I love the picture of the desert, which looks delicious! Diwali sound so fun based on what you have described it as.
That is very beautiful! I like how they put some of the candles in a colorful design.
That is very beautiful! I like how they put some of the candles in a colorful design. It looks amazing.
The colors are very bright. The desert looks very tasty.
This pictures are amazing. India sounds very fun and exciting. Thank you for describing Diwali.
India is so pretty! I’ve seen so many pictures and every one is beautiful. Diwali seems very fun to celebrate! I hope you have a great time in India!
I like the second picture because it has vibrant colors.
I also like the third picture.
Those colors of the dyes were beautiful.
The last picture is amazing! My favorite festival is Diwali!