From Mona Amin

For me, like most Hindus, the five days of Diwali bring a moment to pause, reflect and cherish the essence of life and hope for spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

Across 5 days, families and communities light candles and clay lamps, feast and celebrate. The five-day celebration is centered around the New Moon, the third day of Diwali which is the height of the celebration. Celebrations vary across communities. I come from a trading family from the western state of Gujarat, so our traditions are rooted in business. Lord Ganesha & 3 goddesses ie. Lakshmi (wealth), Saraswati (knowledge) and Kali (destroyer of evil spirits, negative energy) hold significance during these days.

The first day of Diwali is Dhanteras. On this day, it’s considered auspicious to purchase items made from precious metals and to appreciate the wealth/assets you have.

Kali Chaudas has its own religious and spiritual significance as devotees worship goddess Kali to protect from negative energy, evil thoughts and win over our own fears.

The third day of Diwali is Lakshmi Puja. Diwali honors the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. The lights and lamps are said to help Lakshmi find her way into our homes, bringing prosperity in the year to come. It’s also a celebration of good triumphing over evil, and different legends based on this theme are associated.

On day four, or Govardhan Puja, symbolic offerings represent gratitude for the Earth’s bounty and reinforce the values of humility and environmental stewardship. Beyond its mythological origins, it is a celebration of community, sharing, and recognizing the abundance of nature.

For many including me, this is also the first day of the new year. A ritual of closing old accounting books and opening new ones are cherished memories. This is my favorite day, as I hold a precious learning- it’s a day to reflect, acknowledge old debts and ‘write them off’. Bad debts come in several forms, financial but can as well be bad experiences or relationships. Good businesses hold a strong ability to write off old debts, turn the page and start a new year with fresh spirit, so should good lives!

Finally, Bhai Dooj is the fifth day of Diwali. It is a celebration of the special bond that exists between siblings.

Acknowledging life, nature, relationships, everything what makes us humans and celebrate the good in us, is Diwali. While I am neither religious nor an atheist, these days ground me to appreciate things which matter to lead a good life.

Happy Diwali 🙂

Mona Amin