Diwali Unplugged - Why it is celebrated?

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a significant five-day festival symbolizing light triumphing over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November, with the main day falling on the darkest new moon night. People of various faiths, including Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists, come together to celebrate with lights, decorations, and feasting. The festivities include cleaning, decorating with diyas and rangolis, and enjoying traditional sweets and snacks. Diwali is a time for renewal, family bonding, and celebrating abundance. This is the brief on Diwali, the five-day festival of lights. Okay, so Diwali, also called Deepavali, is huge. Like one of the most celebrated festivals you'll find anywhere in the world. It's really all about symbolizing that spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and, you know, knowledge over ignorance. All right, so what really makes Diwali tick? Let's break down three key things you've got to know about this amazing global event. First off, the timing and the name. It's all about light. Diwali actually means row or series of lights in Sanskrit. It usually pops up between mid-October and mid-November, and the main day falls on the darkest new moon night, that's Amavasya, in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Kind of makes sense, right? Bringing light right when it's darkest? Second, it's not just Hindus celebrating, though for them it's often linked to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, or maybe Lord Rama's return home. Jains observe it too, for them it's Mahavira Nirvana Divas, and Sikhs mark Bandi Chordavas. Even some Buddhists get involved. So different reasons, same kind of festive spirit. And finally, how do people celebrate? Well, think lights and feasting. Lots of both. Families get their homes sparkling clean, then decorate with these beautiful little oil lamps called diyas, and make these incredible, colorful floor patterns called rangolis. And the food, oh, it's central. You've got rich sweets, matai, things like laddu and gulab jamun, those spongy syrupy balls, and then savory snacks, namkeen, like crispy samosas, often washed down with a refreshing lassi or some spiced masala chai. So yeah, it's this really special annual time for renewal, connecting with family, and celebrating abundance together.