Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu Festival of Lights and it celebrates the victory of light over darkness. It is a day of Hindu solidarity. Hindus all over the world celebrate this festival and it is a joyous time for families. Families and friends get together, gifts are exchanged, new clothes are worn, lavish meals are cooked, and time is shared with loved ones throughout the day. At night, oil lamps and candles are lit and placed all around homes and temples.
The lighting of the lamps symbolizes many things. For me, mystically, the lighting of the lamp symbolizes the light of the superconscious mind shining on darker areas of the subconscious where unresolved emotional experiences reside. When viewing these congested areas of the subconscious in the light of the superconscious, one gains a deeper understanding of these experiences. Learn from these experiences -- apply the lessons to avoid repeating mistakes and use the wisdom to mature spiritually.
I have celebrated Diwali my whole life, and I especially have great memories of celebrating it during my childhood. By far, my greatest experience celebrating Diwali was at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, North India. Here, at the holiest temple for the Sikhs, Diwali is celebrated like nowhere else. It's hard to describe the experience I had there, but I hope the below pictures convey some of what I witnessed.
