Happy Diwali 2020
Diwali, the five-day ‘Festival of Lights’, is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world.
The date of the festival varies from year to year. In 2019, Diwali fell on Sunday 27 October and in 2021, it will take place on Thursday 4 November.
This year, Diwali starts today, Friday 13 November, with the main day of celebrations taking place on Saturday 14 November.
One of the most significant festivals in Indian culture, Diwali coincides with the Hindu New Year and celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.
How is Diwali celebrated?
Ordinarily, Diwali would be celebrated with big feasts, fireworks, parties with multiple households and spending time with family and friends.
Diwali 2020 however, will obviously be very different in the wake of ongoing coronavirus restrictions – with parties and gatherings off limits under the current lockdown in England.
Although public Diwali celebrations have been cancelled or moved online, that doesn’t mean people can’t still mark the Festival of Lights in their own special way, with individual households holding small celebrations in their homes, and possibly sharing them with family and friends online.
In normal times, Diwali is marked by large firework displays to remember the celebrations which, according to legend, took place upon Lord Rama and his wife Sita's return to their kingdom in northern India from exile after defeating the demon king Ravanna in the 15th century BCE.
Those celebrating the festival also light traditional earthen diyas (candles) and decorate their houses with colourful rangoli artworks - patterns created on the floor using coloured rice or powder. During Diwali, families and friends traditionally share sweets and gifts and there is also a strong belief in giving food and goods to those in need. It is also traditional for homes to be cleaned and new clothes to be worn.
If you have colleagues in your team who celebrate Diwali, don’t forget to wish them a ‘Happy Diwali’ that brings happiness, prosperity and joy to them and their family.
