Diwali is a multi-faith festival that falls between October and November, although the exact date varies each year as it follows the lunar calendar.
This year, Diwali’s five days of festivities run from Saturday, 18 October to Wednesday 22 October, with Diwali falling on Monday 20 October.
Millions of people around the world celebrate Diwali. Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Newar Buddhists observe the occasion by decorating their homes with candles, lighting bonfires and fireworks, sharing meals and sweets, and gathering at temples and gurdwaras. While each faith marks different historical events, they unite in celebrating the triumph of light over darkness and sharing messages of hope and good wishes.
Stewarts’ Diwali evening
To mark the occasion, Stewarts’ Ethnicity, Religion and Culture Focus Group (ERC) organised vibrant and memorable Diwali celebration events on Tuesday 14 October at our London and Leeds offices.
The events were filled with colourful decorations, tea lights, music, delicious vegetarian dishes and engaging activities.
The occasion provided a wonderful opportunity for colleagues from across the firm to connect, learn and share in one another’s cultures, helping to build understanding and celebrate diversity. It also gave attendees a flavour of how Diwali is celebrated and highlighted its religious and cultural significance among people of South Asian heritage.
Attendees had the chance to decorate their hands with intricate and beautiful Mehndi (henna) designs. Mehndi is a form of body art used as a sign of celebration and a symbol of health, luck and positive energy.
Additionally, colourful rangoli patterns came to life as participants used sand to create beautiful designs. Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form where intricate, vibrant patterns are created on floors or courtyards using materials such as coloured rice, sand, flower petals and chalk. These designs symbolise good fortune.
The spirit of light was honoured through candle decorating, allowing each person to craft their own Diwali candle, which, like traditional clay diyas, symbolises the victory of light over darkness.
For the puzzle enthusiasts, a special crossword and word search challenged their knowledge of the festival.
Attendees also had the opportunity to indulge in delicious, traditional Indian vegetarian food dishes.
The aim of the events was to highlight the importance of understanding and appreciating the cultural, linguistic, religious and artistic diversity within the South Asian community, while celebrating its ongoing impact on the wider world. As we wrap up this year’s celebrations, we were delighted to see so many people come together to celebrate Diwali.
We wish you a very happy Diwali.
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