Diwali across the world

Across continents, the Hindu festival unites families, faiths and nations in the shared belief that even the smallest flame can change the world

- Marlan Padayachee

This week's celebration of India's ancient Festival of Lights — Diwali or Deepavali, Sanskrit for “a row of lamps” — shone across continents in an explosion of faith, feasting and festivity.

Yet beyond its dazzling displays and drone-lit skies, Diwali's deeper message could be the moral light our troubled world sorely needs.

First brought to South Africa 165 years ago by Indian indentured labourers who arrived in Durban on 16 November 1860, Diwali remains a spiritual anchor and a symbol of hope. As Mahatma Gandhi, who once lived among those descendants, reminded us: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

At its heart, Diwali celebrates family, community, sharing and goodwill — eclipsing darkness with light.

Its origins lie in an agrarian prayer for good harvests, later immortalised in the epic Ramayana, which recounts Lord Rama and Sita's triumphant return to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile and the defeat of the demon Ravana.

Villagers lit oil lamps to welcome them home, an act of devotion that became a timeless metaphor for righteousness and renewal.

Today, Ayodhya remains the spiritual heartland of Diwali, setting Guinness World Records with millions of diyas — small, flickering lamps — lit in unison and nonstop musical choreography.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's symbolic visits to border postssharing sweets with soldiers remind his nation that light and gratitude extend even to the frontiers of conflict and wars.

From Down Under to the Kiwis, Durban to Dubai, Delhi to Dublin and Mumbai to Madrid, Diwali's radiance transcends geography.

Cities across continents are illuminated by diyas, fireworks and festooned streets, as communities dance, feast and reconnect through ancient rituals.

The world's largest celebration outside India takes place in Leicester, England, where hundreds of thousands gather in a carnival of colour and cuisine.