What events bring the Hindu community together?
Diwali is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by the Hindu community. Sikhs also celebrate the event. Diwali means row of lights and the celebrations take place over five days.
Many Hindus celebrate by decorating their homes, shops and the mandir (Hindu place of worship) with diyas (clay lamps).
Watch Aashvina as she celebrates the Hindu festival of Diwali with her friends, family and the local community.
My name is Aashvina and I'm a Hindu. We're getting ready for Diwali, which is a festival we have every autumn in honour of the goddess, Lakshmi. It's a big event and we celebrate with our families at home and with the whole community at the mandir, which is what we call our temple.
We believe that Lakshmi brings good fortune and wealth. So we put lights in the window, diya lamps in the doorway and flower patterns called rangolis on the floor to welcome her into our homes.
During Diwali the mandir is also decorated with lights and the murits - the images of gods and goddesses - which have been dressed in new clothes. We give offerings of food to all the murtis, especially to Lakshmi, who we believe will bless the food. We call the blessed food prasad, which we share with everyone.
Diwali is a time we thank Lakshmi for everything we have, and one of the ways we do this is by giving money and food to the poor. We call this dana.
We also remember a story from the Ramayana, one of our holy books, about a woman called Sita who is the goddess Lakshmi in human form. Sita was kidnapped by an evil king called Ravana and rescued by her husband Prince Rama. When Sita and Rama returned, everyone put lights in the window and along the road to show them the way home.
This is my favorite bit! At Diwali we have big firework displays and people come from all around to watch and join in the fun.
I love Diwali because it's good to get together with family and friends. The fireworks help us remember that light overcomes darkness and good defeats evil. And we can all help by spreading Lakshmi's blessings to everyone.
Happy Diwali!
What does Diwali celebrate?
Diwali celebrates the Ramayana, which is an epic poem telling the story of Hindu deities, Rama and Sita. In the story, Rama is sent away to a far-off country by his father. Rama leaves with his wife, Sita, but Sita gets kidnapped by a wicked demon called Ravana. The monkey god, Hanuman, helps Rama save Sita and kill Ravana so they can finally return home. This story is about good overcoming evil. Lamps were lit to guide Rama and Sita home, and this is why most Hindus light diya lamps during Diwali today.
Hindus also celebrate Diwali to honour the goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of fortune. Most Hindus believe that if their house is clean and there are diya lamps to light the way, then she will visit their home, bringing good fortune for the coming year. During Diwali, the mandir is also decorated with lights and murtis (images or statues of the Hindu gods or goddesses) are dressed in new clothes and offered food. Hindus believe Lakshmi will bless the food (prasad), which will be shared out amongst the community.
How is Diwali celebrated?
Diwali brings Hindu communities together, to celebrate light overcoming darkness and good defeating evil. Many Hindus celebrate at home and in the mandir by giving presents to each other, sharing meals, singing, dancing and going to firework displays. It is also a time to thank Lakshmi for everything they have. Many Hindus do this by giving money and food to the poor, and this is called dana.
Other Hindu Festivals
During the festival of Holi, many Hindus remember the mischievous ways of the god Krishna, and how, as a young boy, he used to play tricks on people. To celebrate the festival, Hindus often throw coloured powder over each other, followed by water fights.
Hindu festivals in pictures
Image caption, Diwali
Diwali is known as the ‘festival of lights’. Most Hindus decorate their houses, shops and the mandir with lights, diva lamps and flower patterns on the floor called rangoli. Stories of the gods and goddesses, Rama, Hanuman, Sita and Lakshmi, are told.
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