My reflection of Diwali: Upper Tribunal Judge Mandalia shares his experience
Diwali (or Divali) comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali which literally means “a row of lights” and is often referred to in English as the “festival of lights”. This auspicious holiday, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists marks different historical events and stories, but across each of the faiths, historically, it symbolises the spiritual ‘victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance’. Homes are cleaned and decorated with bright lamps, and delicious meals are prepared and shared with all. On a more personal level, it is a time to reflect on and evaluate our thoughts, words, and actions over the past year. Since all wealth, be it material or spiritual, should be shared with others who are less fortunate, Diwali is also a time to reflect on the various ways we can assist others and shine our light out into the world.
For Hindus, the festivities are spread across five days. The Gujarati community celebrate the day after Diwali as it is the start of the Gujarati New Year. It is a time to rejoice and feast with friends and family.
The preparations for the festival begin weeks in advance and as a family we will spend the days leading up to and including Diwali meeting with friends and family at every opportunity. Diwali itself (31 October 2024) will begin with an early morning visit to the mandir (temple) and after a day visiting our nearest and dearest, a family feast. As the Gujarati new year falls this year on Saturday 2 November 2024, the weekend will be one long round of visiting family and friends and a party on the Saturday evening to bring together others that live further away. It will be an opportunity to meet with friends and family and to welcome in another year with the hope of peace and prosperity for all.