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Diwali Celebration: Celebrating Joy, Happiness and Peace

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Update, Jan. 14, 2021 / Every autumn, Diwali falls in either October or November, depending on the cycle of the moon. The five-day ancient festival of lights is observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Looking toward the future, Diwali begins on November 4, 2021, followed a year later on Oct. 24, 2022.

Original Post, Nov. 11, 2013 / In case individuals are wondering about unexpected bright and lighted houses in early November, Naperville’s Chairman of Indian Community Outreach is eager to provide education about the ancient festival of Diwali.

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Krishna Bansal

The most popular and biggest Hindu festival began on Nov 1 this year with the main celebration on Nov. 3. According to Krishna Bansal, Diwali is considered as the Hindu festival equivalent of Christmas, a holiday enjoyed by most people regardless of faith. The five-day festival is celebrated throughout India, Nepal, South Asian Countries as well as in Indian communities throughout the diaspora.

The myth and story of Diwali is legendary, laying the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Diwali and the lights that illuminate homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.

From darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings individuals closer to divinity.

Diwali is a festival which has gained its popularity owing to the nature of its celebrations. The festival is associated with lights and illumination and hence called as the Festival of Lights.

The festival is symbolized with lighting up the houses with diyas (Oil Lamps) and candles, exchanging of gifts and sweets and lighting firecrackers. It is the time when people meet their loved ones, relatives and friends and gifts are considered a token of love and good wishes.

Diwali is reaffirmation of hope & more

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Diwali candles help illuminate the festival of lights.

Regardless of the mythological explanation, what the festival of lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration. The celebration of the festival is invariably accompanied by the exchange of sweets and the lighting of fireworks. Everywhere, it signifies the renewal of life, and accordingly it is common to wear new clothes on the day of the festival.

Diwali also is the beginning of New Year for a lot of communities and businesses in India, a time to wish a very happy and prosperous New Year to all.

As a community being far away from India in Naperville, people of Indian origin use this opportunity to celebrate Diwali as a family as well to convey the meaning and significance of Diwali to their future generations.

“I would like to wish that coming year may bring Peace, Harmony, Prosperity and Happiness to our country and in our lives,” wrote Krishna Bansal, Chairman of Indian Community Outreach, in an open letter to the community. “Happy Diwali!”

Editor’s Note: Earlier this year, Krishna Bansal was selected by Mayor A. George Pradel to serve as Chairman of Indian Community Outreach of Naperville (Mayor’s Office). The City of Naperville also appointed Bill Liu to serve as Chairman of Chinese Community Outreach. The two Naperville residents will take on roles as ambassadors to the Indian and Chinese communities residing within the City, a combined population that comprises about 12 percent of Naperville.

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PN Editor
PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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