'Festival of Lights'
Diwali was celebrated worldwide yesterday (Thursday, November 4) including by families here in Ken-Ton. Liara Bringhurst, a second-grade student at Edison Elementary School, did a wonderful job educating her class about this holiday.
Diwali originated in India and is one of the most important celebrations of the year in Hinduism and other religions of south Asian origin. Liara’s mother’s family is from Punjab in northern India and the family celebrates Diwali each year, Liara explained.
“Diwali is an Indian holiday. It is celebrated by many different religions in India,” Liara said. “It is the festival of lights and celebrates the victory of good over evil. We celebrate it to remove negativity and doubt from our lives.”
Liara shared that her family celebrates Diwali by decorating the house with candles, string lights and oil lamps, called diyas. Outside, they create rangoli, which are large designs made from the colorful powders. They also give and receive presents, dress up, sing, dance, and enjoy large meals with friends and family.
“This holiday is special because we celebrate all that is good and positive,” Liara said. “This is so important, especially in times of uncertainty.”
A very special thank you goes out to Liara for sharing this with your class and for educating us about this day! You can watch her presentation here: youtu.be/8uIoQ_S0pfU