# Happy Deepavali to all our Hindu Dopers - and everyone else, too! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 1, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899 "2005-11-01T14:10:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/1 "2005-11-01T14:10:47Z")
From [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali): Diwālī or Dīpāvali (also transliterated Deepavali; Sanskrit: row of lights) is the Hindu Festival of Lights. For Jains it is one of the most important festivals, and beginning of the Jain year. It is also a significant festival for the Sikh faith. Diwali is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals of India. It is celebrated for 5 consecutive days in Hindu month of Ashwayuja which usually correspond to the months of October or November. Hindus, Jains and Sikhs celebrate Diwali and use the occasion to celebrate life and strengthen relationships. Typically, celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional diyas (as illustrated), although electric lights have become widespread. Fireworks may also be associated with the festival in some regions. So, Shubh Deepavali, all! ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/2 "2005-11-01T15:36:44Z")
Any holiday involving fireworks and sweets is one worth celebrating in my book. Happy Deepavali! dharmaadarthashcha kaamashcha ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/3 "2005-11-01T15:55:24Z")
Happy Diwali!!! I’m lucky enough to live in an area with lots of Hindus - we have so many fireworks through October/November that it’s like living in a warzone sometimes. A sparkly warzone. With lots of pretty colours. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/4 "2005-11-01T16:17:06Z")
Wheee! I got my first Diwali card this week from my future MiL. And my second from a future Cousin-in-law. I guess I’m in the family. Happy Diwali all! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/5 "2005-11-01T17:36:15Z")
Happy Diwali! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/6 "2005-11-01T17:52:09Z")
There was an article about this in our local newspaper(Topeka, Kansas) in the Religion section last Saturday. It gave information on local residents of Indian heritage who are celebrating Diwali. The fireworks got mentioned, and there was a good picture of several women dressed in their best saris. I was glad to see the acknowledgement of a non-Christian religious holiday, although I am Christian myself. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/7 "2005-11-01T19:16:05Z")
So how are you guys celebrating? Tonight I’m going to make some gulab jamun and some halva, and hang up some lights. On the weekend the temple is hosting some fireworks and a dinner, I may go to see that. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/8 "2005-11-01T19:22:56Z")
Happy Diwali! We can always use a little more light in the world. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/9 "2005-11-01T19:25:21Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > So how are you guys celebrating? > > Tonight I’m going to make some gulab jamun and some halva, and hang up some lights. On the weekend the temple is hosting some fireworks and a dinner, I may go to see that. Dinner at the future MiL’s Thursday, then to the temple on Saturday. I’m not sure what the planned menu is, but I’ll be sure to ask. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/10 "2005-11-01T20:26:19Z")
I’m not celebrating as such since i’m not religious but i am thoroughly enjoying the fireworks going off across London so if any of my neighbours are also members THANKYOU for the cool displays. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/11 "2005-11-01T23:09:44Z")
Happy Diwali! I might slink by my favourite Indian restaurant and pick up some food because tonight I really really have to clean up the place and cook for the rest of the week and that takes time. I’m still at a loss for how to get into the cultural stuff in L.A…the local young desi whatever chapter seems woefully unorganized and doing something with the local Marathi club seems sort of retarded first b/c in my experience it’s a bit on the fobby + married peoples with kids side AND my bf is punjabi so what’s the point of us going to something punjabi or marathi focused? I don’t speak Hindi/Punjabi and he doesn’t speak Marathi so one of us is going to get left out. I think our Diwali may consist of watching a Bollywood movie (hate!) and eating Tandoori chicken. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/12 "2005-11-02T05:08:06Z")
As my first Diwali actually in India, all I can say is that it’s very, very loud. It’s a wonder that everyone’s not deaf. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/13 "2005-11-02T12:39:57Z")
> [@alanak](#): > > As my first Diwali actually in India, all I can say is that it’s very, very loud. It’s a wonder that everyone’s not deaf. Yep - i know what you mean. It was kinda fun wandering from room to room until the wee small hours last night and watching all the different displays. But it was SO noisy. Boy am i tired this morning… ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/14 "2005-11-02T15:08:57Z")
I wasn’t familiar with this holiday–Happy Diwali back atcha! It is a festival of renewal? Or just time for fun and fireworks? I can do both-- 🙂 (and in London, do the Diwali fireworks start to blend in to the Guy Fawkes ones?) ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-deepavali-to-all-our-hindu-dopers-and-everyone-else-too/328899/15 "2005-11-02T15:52:32Z")
Not many Indians in my part of da Bronx, but Happy Diwali to all! At Wellesley our International House had a big party, at which I got to see people of all ethnicities wander around scooping up food with their naan with bindis (?sp) on their foreheads. Fun!