Hello everyone, my name is Deepthi Gondi. Our daughter is in 3rd grade and we have been part of Saint Andrew’s family for the past five years. My husband and I grew up in India. Diwali, one of the major festivals celebrated during autumn in India is our most favorite.
Diwali is derived from “Deepavali,” a Sanskrit word that means “row of lights.” It is usually celebrated during the months of October or November on a moonless night. Diwali is also called The Festival of Lights and it symbolizes the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. In some regions in India, Diwali is celebrated for five days. Each day a special ritual takes place. Houses are beautifully decorated with flowers, rangolis and diyas (oil lamps made with clay). Sweets and snacks are shared among friends and neighbors. In the evening, family and friends gather and light lamps and firecrackers. People believe that lighting the row of lights welcomes Goddess Lakshmi home and brings prosperity.
At our home we celebrate Diwali every year by lighting diyas, dressing up in traditional clothes, and cooking Indian sweets. Kheer made with milk, nuts, and sugar is our family favorite. Another tradition that we follow on Diwali is creating rangolis. Rangoli is a design made on the floor with rice flour and decorated with flower petals, turmeric, and vermilion powder.
For the past 4 years, we have also had the privilege of celebrating Diwali at Saint Andrew’s with our class. Kids decorated diyas with colors and had a taste of Indian snacks. A few of us Saint Andrew’s moms created rangolis with colors and flowers. It is very heartwarming to see the support from our school. We are so happy to be part of such a loving and welcoming community at Saint Andrew’s.
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We wish you all a very happy and prosperous Diwali!
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