Everyone knows Halloween and Christmas, but how many people reading this have heard of Diwali? This Indian holiday will be happening November 10-14 this year, so here’s everything you need to know!

Diwali is celebrated for different reasons, depending on the region of India. It is celebrated primarily by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, and each has its own stories for why, sometimes even more than one. The Hindu version is that it was the day the hero Lord Rama returned from exile, during which he had to defeat the demon Ravana and save his wife, Sita. For Jains, it is the day when Lord Mahavira attained complete knowledge and enlightenment. For Sikhs, it is called Bandi Cchor Diwas and is technically a separate holiday. It was the day a spiritual leader was released from prison. Of course, there are more stories than this, but whichever way you celebrate, there are some repeating themes.

Diwali is five days long, and each day has different celebrations. The most important is the third. On this day, you celebrate, perform prayers, and light oil lamps called diyas. It is also the darkest night of the year, which is why the date of Diwali changes. Throughout Diwali, you make and eat delicious food. Some of these foods are penda, round desserts traditionally decorated by pressing them with the bottom of a spool to make a pattern, or samosas, triangular pastries stuffed with savory filling. To decorate, people create circular designs called rangolis, traditionally made of sand, rice, or flowers, in the entryways of houses. They will also clean the house, hang flower garlands, and buy new kitchenware.

That is all I have to say about this holiday, but if you want to know more, you can head to the Pelham Art Center to see Diwali in action! There will be a celebration on November 19 from 1-3 pm, including dance performances (one starring the author!) and fun arts and crafts.

In the end, Diwali is and will always be a beautiful celebration of good over evil and light over darkness. Thank you for reading, and of course, Happy Diwali!