India and the diaspora · religious
The festival of lights — five days, lamps in every window, celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists.
The date moves each year with a lunar calendar — see when it falls.
Deepavali means "a row of lights". Families light clay diya lamps, draw rangoli patterns on the doorstep and share sweets. The stories behind it differ by region and by faith: in much of northern India it marks Rama's return to Ayodhya; in the west it is tied to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity; Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind from prison, on the same day.
One festival, several religions, several stories, one image: a small light put where the dark is. That is a rare and useful thing to show a child.
What a family can actually do
Light a small lamp at the door and draw a rangoli in chalk on the step. Ours are at /coloring/diwali.
“Dreams” by The Compendium Company, LLC