This October 31, the calendar gifts us with a unique overlap of two beloved festivals: Halloween and Diwali. While Halloween brings the excitement of spooky costumes and decor, Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, invites warmth and reverence.
Celebrated in different corners of the world, each festival holds deep significance, yet the convergence of these two on the same night invites communities to navigate how to respectfully balance both.
Recently, a friend forwarded a message that underscores the sentiments of many Hindu households in the Indian diaspora on this rare coincidence:
“Please don’t decorate your homes for Halloween, as we are welcoming Lakshmi Mata on this day. Also, please avoid dressing your children in scary costumes and sending them out after sunset. Amavasya is not an ideal day to send kids out in scary costumes!”
While, the social media is buzzing with memes, featuring everything from Pennywise the Clown performing aarti to Diwali-meets-Halloween outfit mashups, like sarees paired with vampire makeup. This blend of horror and tradition has inspired creative costumes and memes, turning the day into a potential new, unofficial holiday tradition.
It’s a also reminder of the meaning Diwali holds, especially on Amavasya, the new moon night, which is traditionally spent in prayer, lighting diyas (lamps), and surrounding oneself with positive energy. But it also raises an interesting question: How can communities observe the excitement of Halloween while preserving the sacred atmosphere of Diwali?
Diwali marks the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, and it holds immense cultural, spiritual, and emotional significance for Hindus across the globe. Coinciding with this is Halloween, a Western celebration where costumes, especially those inspired by ghosts and the supernatural, are common as people enjoy an evening of treats and playful frights.
For Diwali, particularly in 2024 when it aligns with Halloween, the day has an even deeper resonance. The night of Diwali is also Amavasya, or the new moon, which is spiritually significant. Hindu households are traditionally decorated with oil lamps (diyas) and floral decorations to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and seek her blessings for prosperity and harmony. Each diya is seen as a beacon for Lakshmi, who is believed to bring fortune to those who keep their homes open, warm, and inviting.
On this night, Hindus refrain from wearing dark or “scary” clothing, as it could be seen as disrespectful. Additionally, with the significance of Amavasya, it is not considered auspicious to be outdoors with symbolic darkness or ghostly costumes. Instead, the emphasis is on family gatherings, prayers, and the lighting of the home to embrace positive energy.
Halloween, meanwhile, is a beloved festival in the West. Rooted in ancient Celtic traditions, Halloween began as Samhain, a festival marking the end of harvest season and the beginning of winter, with people dressing in costumes to ward off roaming spirits. Over time, it evolved into a holiday of community spirit, playful frights, and creative expression, with children dressed in costumes collecting treats from door to door. Halloween brings joy to millions, especially in Australia, where more families join in the fun each year. It is a time for communities to celebrate shared experiences, marking the onset of the holiday season with a sense of unity.
However, this year, the overlap of Halloween and Diwali calls for a nuanced approach, especially in the Indian diaspora. For Hindus, decorating homes with Halloween imagery on Diwali could disrupt the sacred ambience intended for the goddess Lakshmi.
Similarly, sending children out after sunset in costumes associated with darkness could feel jarring within the context of Diwali’s values. This doesn’t mean that one celebration is incompatible with the other, but rather, it suggests an opportunity to find a respectful balance that honours the spirit of both traditions.
Indian communities in the diaspora can foster understanding and harmony by accommodating the significance of each festival, celebrating Halloween in a way that feels true to its joyful spirit without encroaching upon Diwali’s sacred evening.
To me, in our increasingly multicultural world, moments like this remind us of the importance of cultural respect. Each festival brings its unique light and values, and in respecting the significance of both, we build communities that honour shared joy, diversity, and respect for tradition.
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