Deepavali

Deepavali means "row of lamps." Each diya we light is a small vow: to bring light into our home, our neighbourhood, and into someone else's day.

Deepavali has many stories across Bharat — Rama returning to Ayodhya, Krishna defeating Narakasura, Lakshmi entering homes that welcome her with light and cleanliness. All of them share one idea: light triumphs.

We celebrate to renew our home, forgive old grievances, and gather the family for one more meal, one more photograph, one more year together.

Konkani homes clean and repaint before Deepavali, string mango-leaf torans, draw rangoli at every doorstep, and prepare fov (poha), chakli, laddoo and karanji. Elders bless the youngest with tilak.