News
Happy Diwali!
Posted 31/10/24
31st October - 1st November : The festival of lights is just around the corner! Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is India鈥檚 biggest and most important holiday of the year. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and wisdom over ignorance.
Diwali is commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists all around the world. It is also widely celebrated in Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji and other countries with large South Asian diasporas.
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What is Diwali?
This year, Diwali is celebrated from 31st October to the 1st November 鈥� this date differs annually as Diwali is always celebrated on a moonless night in October or November.
Though Diwali traditions vary according to region and religion, the origins behind the occasion share themes of justice and liberation. For many, this five-day festival honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Lamps are lit not only to help Lakshmi find her way into people鈥檚 homes, but to also symbolise the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. On Diwali night, most people offer prayers to Lakshmi and Ganesh, the god representing good fortune and wisdom for the coming year. This auspicious event sees people cleaning and decorating their homes, wearing new clothes, exchanging gifts and huge firework displays.
The business community considers Diwali a positive time to start new ventures as it marks the start of the new Hindu financial year. During this time, many businesses, traders and shopkeepers open new account books and flaunt their shops with small oil lamps called 鈥榙iyas鈥�.
Show Your Support
Supporting your co-workers who celebrate Diwali is important, and it can be a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about the festival and join in the celebrations.
Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- Learn about what the holiday means. Take the time to educate yourself about Diwali and learn about why it is an important time in the calendar. Sharing facts and knowledge provides an opportunity for people to learn new things about different celebrations. Speak to Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist colleagues and ask respectful questions which will help you to appreciate and learn about the culture. This will help to show colleagues that you鈥檙e interested in learning about what is important to them.
- Share experiences. If your co-workers celebrate Diwali, invite them to share their experiences. This could be their way of celebrating Diwali, Diwali food they enjoy or what Diwali means to them. It will provide a personal perspective on the celebration.
- Try symbolic foods. Those who celebrate Diwali may have signature dishes that they enjoy with family and friends. This could include savoury snacks or sweetmeats (also known as Mithai). This can be a good time for colleagues who celebrate Diwali to share / make their traditional dishes to distribute to their team.
- Review your holiday policy. As an important date in the calendar for millions of people globally, be mindful that colleagues may take leave over the Diwali period. Be flexible when it comes to these requests for annual leave.
For more information:
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Firework Safety
According to the fire service, 127 fires in homes and buildings in the UK are as a result of fireworks every year, while the majority of firework-related injuries occur during family or private parties. If you are attending a private event or putting on your own display of fireworks, make sure you adhere to the and that you are buying fireworks only from reputable retailers. If you choose to host a fireworks display at home, it is important to only buy fireworks from established premises or licensed online suppliers. Check that the firework box carries a CE or UKCA mark, and make sure that you are only buying category two and category three fireworks. It is to be noted that category F3 fireworks are much more powerful than F2 fireworks, so be sure to check the label and followed the specified distance requirements.
Children should never be allowed to buy, handle or let off fireworks. Newham鈥檚 Trading Standards Service have noted that their officers will be proactively checking retailers to enforce the laws which restrict sales to all under-18鈥檚. They are also conducting visits to remind businesses of their legal obligations with regards to compliance with safety, storage of firework explosives and licensing compliance, just to name a few.
Advice and Safety Tips
- Keep candles and diyas in safe and secure holders, while all tea lights should be on a heat-resistant surface
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- Keep these away from soft furnishings, like curtains
- Take care that long hair and clothing (especially saris and dupattas) are kept away from open flames as they are very flammable
- Candles should not be left unattended at any time
- Consider swapping candles for battery-operated LED tea lights
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- Never 鈥榙aisy-chain鈥� (plugging one extension into another in order to reach further) extension leads or adaptors as this creates a huge fire risk
- Ensure all fireworks meet British safety standards 鈥� store these in a metal box, read instructions, never go back to a lit firework and keep a bucket of water nearby
- When cooking during the festival, don鈥檛 leave the stove unattended
- Keep pets indoors and ensure children are safe and a good distance away from the fireworks
- Be careful if using incense sticks and place it in a well-ventilated area, keeping it away from flammable objects
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