Oil lamps lit during Diwali

Glowing traditions. Happy Diwali!

Today is Diwali, a festival that celebrates hope, prosperity and the triumph of good over evil. It marks Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, and honours the goddess Lakshmi, believed to bring wealth and well-being into homes, while some communities worship the goddess, Kali. Families clean and decorate their homes, exchange sweets (or mithai), and gather for prayers—filling neighbourhoods with an atmosphere of joy. Meanwhile, markets bustle with shoppers buying gifts and new clothes, while fireworks light up the sky. Central to the festival are diyas—small oil lamps whose flames symbolise the triumph of light over darkness and the promise of new beginnings.

Across India, the radiance spills beyond homes, as entire streets glow with rows of flickering lamps, their reflections dancing on rangoli patterns at doorsteps. Beneath the lamps' glow, traditions shift from region to region, each adding its own colour to Diwali. Though celebrations differ by region, from Kali Puja in Bengal to Naraka Chaturdashi in the south, the spirit remains the same. Diwali blends faith, family and community, reminding us that even a single diya can brighten the darkest night.