Diwali: Festival of Lights

Many families light diya, or clay oil lamps, to celebrate Diwali.

Diwali is a very exciting and colorful Hindu holiday. Diwali is observed in almost all regions of India and has been celebrated for hundreds of years. Diwali is the Hindu New Year festival, and falls on a different date each year because the Hindu calendar is based on the lunar cycle.

Diwali means row of lights, and the main attraction is the candles and lamps, called diyas, that are lit in almost every home after puja (worship). Many Hindus also give thanks to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and pray for a good new year, which starts the day after Diwali.

Similar to Christmas, Diwali is a time when many families enjoy wearing new clothes and exchange gifts and sweets with friends and neighbors. This festival is celebrated over a period of five days with dancing, many lights, and fireworks.

Diwali also marks the end of the harvest season on many parts of India and is the last major celebration before winter.

Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil. According to the Hindu legend, Diwali honors the return of Rama (a prince who was in line to be king), his wife, Sita, and his brother, Lakshmana, after a 14-year exile in the forest. During Rama's exile, the evil king Ravana of Lanka lured him away from his hut and then kidnapped Sita while he was away. After many years and the help of an army, Rama defeated the evil king Ravana of Lanka and rescued Sita. After he rescued her, his exile was up, and he was able to return home. Print out a fill-in-the-blank story about the legend of Diwali.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12, NIV) Today, take a moment as a family to pray for all the people in India who don't yet know that Jesus represents the true victory of light over darkness. Ask God to use your loose coins in your Rice Bag to bring this Good News to more families in India, and that the light of Truth will someday shine in every corner of this nation.

Many Indian children eagerly await the fun and celebration of Diwali.

Try these hands-on activities to see some of the ways children in India are celebrating Diwali this week.