Diwali, or the festival of lights, is celebrated all across India with great fervour and enthusiasm. India is a country with great diversity. There are many religions, many cultures, many languages and many regions. Yet, there is a unifying thread that runs across the nation and binds it together.

Festivals like Diwali add strength to this thread. It is one of the very few festivals that is celebrated all over the country regardless of caste, culture, creed or religion. Sweets are exchanged among people and lamps are lit up to chase the darkness away, and spread light.

To complete the festivities, firecrackers are burst late into the night. For children, firecrackers are the most important part of Diwali, with the sweets coming in a close second.

This year Diwali falls on Tuesday, October 28 (the day of writing this post).

I wish everyone a very happy and a safe Diwali.