DIWALI, also known as Deepawali or the “festival of lights”, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated every year in autumn. The spiritual significant of this event is the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair.

Preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period with the main festival night of Diwali coinciding with the darkest new moon night. In the Hindu calendar it falls in the month of Kartik and in the Gregorian calendar Diwali night typically falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Before Diwali night, people clean and decorate their homes, which signifies purity of mind and thought during the festival and throughout the year. They attempt to put the past behind them and move towards a brighter future.

On Diwali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfits, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home (light signifies knowledge) and participate in family puja (worship) offered to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. After puja, fireworks and food follow.

Sharing mithai (sweets) and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends is a very popular part of celebrations and this encourages Hindus to share throughout the year.

Diwali is an important festival for all Hindus and the name for the festive days as well as its rituals can vary significantly based on the region of India where the family originate from.

On the same night that Hindus celebrate Diwali, the Jain community celebrates a festival of lights to mark the attainment of moksha by Bhagwan Mahaveer, and Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas.

This year the Hindu community celebrated Diwali on Thursday.

Local Temples also play a big part in the community celebrations. Hindus come together in worship, have fun and ensure a community spirit is evident during this festive time.

Shallu Sharma, Hindu Cultural Society Bradford