With Diwali 2022 taking place this week, from Monday 24 to Friday 28 October, Kshitij Sinha, Research Intern at Birkbeck’s Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, shares what Diwali means to him. 

Kshitij Sinha

Diwali is an eagerly anticipated and joyous festival in many Asian countries like India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, and Nepal. Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit terms ‘dipa’, which means ‘light, candle, or that which burns, glows, and illuminates’, and ‘vali’, which means ‘an array, row, continuous line, series’.  

The festival of lights, as it is known, brings joy and illumination into the lives of Indian families. It commemorates Lord Rama, one of the Hindu Gods, returning to his kingdom of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. Diwali is a five-day festival that marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. During this time, you will see the jubilant life of Indian families as you walk through houses decorated with diyas, beautiful rangolis at the doors, and children on the streets with crackers. You can also see balcony lights strung in flats from the road.  

I remember my first Diwali celebration in London two years ago. My entire family was dressed in brightly coloured clothing. We lit up diyas in every room and lit ‘phool-jharis’ (sparklers), a little firecracker that releases a shower of sparks from the balcony. On the auspicious day of Diwali, it is one of the most important rituals done in many Indian households. It is often done in the evening to welcome the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi into the home and bless the occupants.  

A combination of diyas and candles laid out for Diwali

Finally, Diwali has a special significance this year. This celebration represents the triumph of good over evil and has provided a glimpse of hope in our fight against Covid-19 through the development of vaccinations and the improvement of health.   

With this, I wish all the staff and students at Birkbeck, University of London a safe and incredibly happy Diwali!