Halloween has its roots in the timeless Celtic tradition, celebrated as the festival of Samhain.

As the harvest season yields to the chill of the approaching winter, spirits roam free, and the veil between the living and the dead becomes thin. Towering bonfires were lit to ward off wandering evil spirits and to guide the souls seeking the afterlife.

Diwali is the celebration of good over evil and light over darkness. It is a time celebrated with love, light, and family. Diwali embodies the soul of India; regardless of one’s adherence to sacred texts such as the Ramayana, Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Quran, or the Bible, Diwali emphasizes unity and togetherness. It commemorates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya and the restoration of a just empire.

The merging of Diwali and Halloween brings together the East and the West in a warm embrace that bridges dark gaps with paths illuminated by light.

Happy Diwaliween! Let love prevail.

– brij