In celebration of my (part) Indian heritage I am pleased to wish everyone a Happy Diwali.

Typically celebrated over a five-day period, Diwali, the Hindi festival of lights, is also an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Sindh Province of Pakistan.

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Newar Buddhists. It marks events and stories that symbolise the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.