We wish all Hindu and Sikh members of our community a Happy Diwali!

To our members that don’t know about Diwali, it is a five day long festival of lights that started on the 2nd of November and ends on the 6th of November.

Diwali takes place each year after the conclusion of harvest and to coincide with the new moon between mid-October and mid-November.

Diwali symbolises the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.

It is widely associated with the Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolises three virtues: wealth and prosperity, fertility and abundant crops, as well as good fortune.

The five days consist of:

Day 1: Dhanteras - prayers are made for wealth and prosperity.

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdasi - prayers are made for good health and to ensure there are no bad omens in the family.

Day 3: Amavasya (the new moon day) - On this day business people and children would usually bring their books to the temple, they ask their books to be blessed for success in the year ahead.

Day 4: Govardhan Puja (new year's day) - The day is named after the mountain that Krisna held up to shelter the villagers from a massive rainstorm. People usually put sweets and other savory items outside the temple on this day.

Day 5: Bhai Duj- the last day of Diwali, this year will be on November 6.