My favourite festival celebrates this month, far, far away in the East, in India.. Is Diwali, a celebration that starts tomorrow 22nd and lasts 5 days, each day with a specific significance or ritual. Diwali highlights the ‘Victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance’.

The symbolism that holds this tradition sparkles up so much beauty, faith, devotion and delight within me.

For some, also marks the beginning of the financial year, so everyone is getting set to start a new cycle, like the new year, with new clothes, presents, lots of sweets and light, a lot of light everywhere amidst the night.

On the day the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, she represents wealth in all forms, beyond material goods, money and possesions (which she also generously carries), she brings in the energy of fertility, beauty, prosperity, abundance of health and resources… an overflowing fountain of goodness.
Doors and windows are opened in the houses and people light up a candle or lamp outside, somewhere visible to invite Lakshmi in and receive her blessings, offerings to the goddess are made in the form of prayers, sweets, flowers, herbs, incense, coconuts and fruits.

Worshiping, might be interpreted in different ways by each individual, specially for us ‘westerners’… despite that, what a beautiful act of devotion to deliberately surrender and offer something to a purpose that holds some sincere meaning or value to the doer, or perhabs brings a sense of connection with inmensity and all that is beyond the self into the vastness of the uni-verse.

“The tiny flame that lights up the human heart is like a blazing torch that comes down from heaven to light up the paths of mankind. For in one soul are contained the hopes and feelings of all Mankind.”