Ashland Indians held a public Diwali celebration, sometimes called the Indian festival of lights, on Nov. 8 at The Corner Spot. Instead of the usual entertainment and food, organizers held a socially distanced Rangoli exhibit.

Diwali, or Dipawali, India’s most important holiday of the year, is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, and Janis and lasts five days. The diverse stories from Diwali share the same argument--that good will triumph over evil. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians. (kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/diwali/) 

“Rangoli, or Kolam, is an art form placed in the front yard of a house and is usually created with white or color powders made of either rice or stone dust,” K G Narayana, an event organizer, explained. “This art form sometimes uses dots, straight lines, and curves to draw geometrical symmetric designs. The art form can also depict things that are found in nature, including living and nonliving objects. It symbolizes a welcome sign in front of the house and also gives a notion of happiness and wellbeing of the members in the household.”

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that is also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C. and in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well.