Happy Deepavali or Diwali!

Festival of Lights

Hi! It’s Lynette and here’s wishing you Happy Deepavali or Diwali (Divali).

Now, if you’re visiting friends during this Hindu New Year also known as Festival of Lights,

you can feast on myriad Indian delicacies like Sheera – a warm fudge-like sweet

made with raisins, nuts, semolina, saffron and cardamom usually eaten with a spicy black-eye bean curry.

Shubh (Subert) Deepavali is one customary greeting that you could use

when you meet and greet your Hindu friends this coming Festival of Lights.

It means have an auspicious Deepavali and they will love you for it!

And to usher into their homes another year of great wealth and fortune

Families usually mark this widely celebrated holiday by drawing a colourful rangoli,

which is a decorative pattern made from rice flour at the entrance of their homes

Deepavali or Diwali?

In Northern India, with the declining use of Sanskrit, the word Deepavali got abbreviated to Diwali

Interestingly, Diwali marks the end of the harvest season and the start of winter

And during this time, farmers all over India are grateful for the harvest they have had

And they take this opportunity to pray for a prosperous harvesting season in the upcoming year!