Celebrating Diwali at Brandon
Celebrating Diwali at Brandon
Hello, we’re Niveditha and Bhavani and we work in Brandon's support services departments, supporting our frontline teams. This week, we are celebrating Diwali with our colleagues and communities.
What is Diwali?
Diwali is India’s most important festival. Also known as the festival of lights, it is a celebration of the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
Diwali honours Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists in India and around the world.
Does it fall at the same time every year?
The date of Diwali is calculated using the Hindu calendar. It always falls on a New Moon Day, typically in October or November.
How is Diwali celebrated?
We usually start preparing for the celebrations a couple of days before Diwali, by cleaning the house and buying new clothes and jewellery for the occasion.
We decorate our homes indoors and outdoors with lights and clay lamps, and wear traditional outfits made from the finest materials.
On the day of Diwali, we perform worship ceremonies and prepare lots of food. Popular dishes include vegetable samosas with tamarind chutney, and Kaji burfi – a sweet fudge made with cashew nuts, milk, and sugar.
We celebrate with family and friends by eating together, exchanging gifts, sweets, and dry fruits, and lighting fireworks and candles. We also make rangoli art with coloured sand.
