The most recent residents on the circle where we live are from India. Today may be Halloween for the rest of us, but this year, for our neighbors it’s the most important festival of the year — Diwali. It is celebrated across faiths by more than a billion people. Over five days, people take part in festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts and prayer.
Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” People light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
The dates of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar and typically fall in late October or early November. This year, the holiday is celebrated on October 31 and November 1.
Of course this year, Diwali falls on Halloween in the U.S. It’ll be interesting to see how our neighborhood handles the combination…..
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