India's Festival of Lights

the rangoli at Fredrik Meijer Gardens

 India has a significant five day Hindu celebration that occurs between mid-October and November. Much like our 4th of July, this involves festive fireworks, lights, flowers, decorations and worship (puja). This festival is called Diwali and is widely celebrated with rangoli. Rangoli is an extremely delicate and beautiful design made of colorful sand, rice flour, beans and flowers. The hindu women create these in front of their homes as a welcome to guests, this also adds beauty to their puja or worship space. The materials used in this are meant to be offerings to the gods and as they disintegrate they become one with the earth again and one with God. Plants are a very special part of Diwali. Strings upon garlands of flowers like banana plants, hibiscus and marigolds are used to enlighten this festive time. The true meaning behind the festival is to rejoice in the inner light or otherwise known as Atman. The inner light is symbolized by lighting small clay lamps like the one in the picture called a diya. The lighting   is considered highly favorable as it brings good health and prosperity. We tend to have many traditional acts of showing light over darkness during this season, so what are some ways (besides lights) that you symbolize lightness over darkness?