TOPSHOT - Thiroshnee Moodley lights up colourful clay lamps in preparation to celebrate Diwali ... [+]
Diwali is one of the most important holidays celebrated in India. Usually lasting about five days, this year, it started on October 22nd with the festivity of Dhanteras. The name of this festival is derived from ‘avali,’ which means ‘row,’ and ‘deepa,’ meaning ‘clay lamps.’ When merged, these words mean ‘a row of lights.’ it symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” That is why you’ll often see many lights adorning festivities for Diwali, and the holiday itself is also widely known as the “Festival of the lights.”
Diwali is not limited to the celebration of just one historical event. Each religion remembers different stories and historical events behind it, as a happy moment, a promise of a better tomorrow and a new harvest.
How can you celebrate Diwali in your workplace? I interviewed Gitika Manwani, a recruiter at Bali Staffing, and here I am sharing some ideas:
- Light a candle together
- Make rangolis together (beautiful decor made with powders, dyed rice and beads)
- Make a 7-vegetable dish
- Hindus consider 7 to be an auspicious number, and each vegetable represents a form of devotion. The symbolism behind it is that we offer our Goddess Lakshmi the very best and, in return, will be blessed with the very best.
- Have an Indian meal together
- Take a moment to reflect on the mythology behind the celebration
- Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, the light over darkness
- The god Rama wins over the demon-king Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife Sita
- It’s also the day Hindus celebrate and worship Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune, as well as Ganesha, the obstacle-remover
- Set intentions together for the new year, which will bring light into our lives and our workplace
Celebrating together, onsite or remotely, is a way to increase belonging and engagement of employees from different cultures at work. By sharing these activities and fantastic food outside of the Indian community, everyone else can learn more about it and, why not? Incorporate some of their good habits too.
