Happy Diwali to our service users, patients, their loved ones and our colleagues.

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a festival that is celebrated by people of different faiths, including many Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Muslims and Buddhists. It is a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.

Traditionally, the ‘festival of light’ is celebrated over a period of five days.

  • Day one: People clean their homes and shop for gold or kitchen utensils to help bring good fortune.
  • Day two: People decorate their homes with clay lamps and create patterns called rangoli on the floor using coloured powders or sand.
  • Day three: On the main day of the festival, families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities.
  • Day four: This is the first day of the New Year, when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season.
  • Day five: Brothers visit their married sisters, who welcome them with love and a lavish meal.