What is Diwali?

Diwali is a five-day celebration of the Festival of Lights. It relates to harvest and new year celebrations and represents new beginnings as well as the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness: the Festival of Lights.

When is Diwali?

Diwali’s date varies from year to year, but it is usually celebrated between October and November.

Diwali celebrations in 2023 begin on 10th November and last until 14th November.

The festival is a five-day celebration, but the main day of Diwali is on the third day, this year 12th November. This is when families gather together to perform the ritual “Lakshmi puja,” which is a prayer to the Goddess Lakshmi.

Who celebrates Diwali?

Diwali is celebrated by millions of Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, and some Newar Buddhists around the world.

Why is Diwali celebrated?

The history of Diwali and why it is celebrated is different for various religions:

• Hindus commemorate the return of the deities Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile, as well as the day Mother Goddess Durga defeated the demon Mahisha.
• Sikhs celebrate the release of the sixth guru Hargobind Singh from prison in 1619.
• Jainism was founded by Lord Mahavira. Jains observe Diwali to commemorate the moment he attained Moksha, also known as nirvana or eternal bliss.
• Newar Buddhists of Nepal celebrate Diwali to honour Lakshmi.

From our expert:

“Diwali is celebrated across the world by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. It symbolises the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.

The story of the return of Lord Ram and his wife Sita after exile and victory of Lord Rama’s battle against the evil king Ravana is one that I was regularly told growing up.

This festival is one that is filled with happiness, colour, laughter, families, friends and most importantly food. That is how I remember it growing up anyway. I remember seeing my Baa (Paternal Grandma) creating pretty rangoli patterns outside and the boxes of fireworks.

Growing up in a Guajarati household Diwali was just the start. The next day is known as Bestu Varas (New Years Day – this October we will enter 2079), where we would continue these celebrations by visiting the temples and family houses consuming lots of fish.

I never properly understood the significance of this but a tradition that has held the passing of time. As I got older and met friends and my husband I had realised how these celebrations differ in each community.

However you choose to celebrate Jesse Krishna, Nutan Versahabhinandan, Saal Mubarak, and Happy Diwali!”

Tanisha Singla, Senior Inclusion and Diversity Consultant

How to celebrate Diwali at work

Supporting your coworkers who celebrate Diwali is important, and it can be a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about the holiday and join in the celebrations.

Here are a few ideas for getting Diwali celebrations and how to get involved:

Learn about what the holiday means

Educate and train people about Diwali, religion, and why it is celebrated. Sharing Diwali facts and knowledge provides an opportunity for people to learn new things while also having fun and participating.

Consider organising some Henna artists

Henna is frequently used to mark gatherings and religious events. Consider bringing in some Henna artists to help spread the joy.

Share experiences

If your coworkers celebrate Diwali, invite them to share their experiences. This could be their way of celebrating Diwali, Diwali food they enjoy or what Diwali means to them. It will provide a personal perspective on the celebration.

Try symbolic foods

Those who celebrate Diwali may have signature dishes that they enjoy with family and friends.

It’s a good time to ask your colleagues if they’d be comfortable sharing/making their traditional dishes. If so, you can prepare foods for the team to share and discuss during the lunch break.

Diwali, as we all know, is a celebration of good triumphing over evil. As a result, asking your employees to write down one good deed they’ve done or to aim to do one good deed that day is a great idea.

It could be as simple as assisting someone with their work or simply smiling at them. You can create some beautiful visual artwork out of all the good deeds you’ve written down.

Review your holiday policy

As an important date in the calendar for millions of people globally, colleagues may take leave over the Diwali period to celebrate the Festival of Light.

Consider reviewing your bank holiday policy: could you offer flexible bank holidays for staff to take when they wish? For instance, they could work during Easter (a traditionally Christian holiday) and use the two bank holidays during Diwali?

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for more information on celebrating Diwali at work or want to learn more about the benefits of religious diversity in the workplace – we can help. Get in touch today to learn more.