Namaste Friends and Family,

Happy Diwali!

Diwali serves as a great reminder to give – give your love and shine your light!

The name “Diwali” is derived from the word deepavali, which means a “row of lights, or lamps.” On Diwali, we celebrate by lighting lamps and placing them all around the house and temple.

The spiritual significance of lighting the lamps is to remind us of the importance of sharing our own Inner Light that is inherent in all of us.

The Devi Mandir follows the tradition of Bengal, where Diwali is preceded by a Kali Puja. Goddess Kali takes away our darkness so the light can shine! Celebrants light lamps and candles in memory of the departed ancestors. Then, Goddess Kali is worshiped. In some places Kali is worshiped all night long!

Shree Maa and Swamiji will celebrate Diwali (which is also called Divali, Deepavali, Dipavali, and Dipaboli) by performing the Kali Puja on Wednesday, October 18th at 6:00 pm. Then, the celebration continues into Diwali on the next day, Thursday, October 19th at 6:00 pm.

It is a perfect time to pray for the “Light” of the higher intellect to dissolve our darkness. This is what is meant by the victory of good over evil.

In India, typically Diwali is celebrated inside the home with close family and friends. New clothes are worn on this day and the house gets cleaned.

Celebrants fill small clay lamps with oil and place them all around the house. These lamps are kept burning all night long to make the Goddess feel welcome.

At the temples, there are rows and rows of the lamps lit as devotees flock from near and far to attend celebrations and offer their inner light.

Sweets and snacks are also shared. Sometimes firecrackers are lit and children can be seen enjoying the lighting of sparklers.

Related: Diwali Questions and Answers with Swamiji

Stay tuned to our website at shreemaa.org and the Webcam for the Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations!

Love and Blessings for a spectacular Diwali!