Happy Diwali!

This year, Diwali is celebrated on Saturday, November 14, 2020.
To make sure your Diwali greeting cards arrive to international family, you should mail them by October 24, 2020.

Some Diwali fun facts:

• Diwali is a national holiday in India, Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Guyana, Surinam, Singapore, Malaysia and Fiji.
• The festival marks the beginning of the financial year for Indian businesses.
• The festival marks the end of the harvest season in the country.
• The name ‘deepavali’ is a Sanskrit word and means ‘row of lights’.
• A scientific reason for celebrating with firecrackers is that the fumes of crackers kill the harmful insects of the rainy season.
• There is a legend behind why people gamble during this festival season. It is said that on this day, the goddess Parvati had played dice with her husband, Shiva. She then declared that whoever would gamble on the night of Diwali would be ensured good fortune and prosperity all throughout the year.
• Different states have different types of rangolis indigenous to them. For instance, in Bihar, there is a certain type of Rangoli where the footsteps of the Goddess Lakshmi are drawn on the doorstep. The toes point towards the door, signifying her entry into the house.
• The biggest celebration outside of India is hosted by the English city of Leicester.

Source: Bigsmall.in