Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a celebration of great significance to many of our Sikh and Hindu brothers and sisters and holds a universal message that resonates with Catholic values. Diwali can be seen as a festival that symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Just as we celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus, Sikhs and Hindus celebrate Diwali as the victory of light and righteousness. It reminds us of the importance of dispelling ignorance, hatred, and negativity in our lives and society, and replacing them with love, knowledge, and compassion. It is an opportunity to come together with people of different faiths, emphasising our shared commitment to promoting peace, joy, and unity. As Catholics, we appreciate the diversity of the world’s religious traditions and can find common ground in the universal themes of love, hope, and the eternal battle between good and evil, as beautifully illustrated in the Festival of Diwali.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. – Isaiah 60:3