Apoorva Srivastava, India’s Ambassador to the Slovak Republic, is a career diplomat who has served in Paris, Kathmandu and Toronto during her two decades in the Indian Foreign Service.
Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is celebrated with great fervor across India and among Indian communities worldwide. It is not just a festival of lamps and fireworks, but a celebration of hope, unity, and renewal.
At its heart, Diwali commemorates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The legend behind Diwali is from the great Indian epic, the Ramayana. It marks the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana to the city of Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the defeat of the demon king Ravana. To welcome them, the people of Ayodhya lit their homes and streets with rows of oil lamps, called diyas. This beautiful tradition continues today, with millions of lamps illuminating homes, temples, and cities during Diwali, symbolizing the eternal light of goodness.
The celebrations span five days, each with its own rituals and meanings. Families clean and decorate their homes, light candles and lamps, and offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Sweets and delicacies are prepared and exchanged among friends and neighbors. Fireworks light up the sky, beautiful rangolis (artwork) adorn the streets and markets are filled with the vibrant energy of people buying gifts, clothes, and festive foods. Beyond religion, Diwali is an occasion when people of all faiths in India come together to celebrate as one community.
The festival also carries a deep social significance. It is a time for reconciliation, for mending broken relationships, and for strengthening the bonds between families, friends, and communities. In India, where diversity is immense, Diwali unites people across languages, regions, and traditions. It reminds us that in spite of our differences, light and goodness are values that we all share.
A personal reflection
My happiest memories during the Diwali festival were of visiting the beautifully decorated markets to buy earthen lamps and firecrackers, carefully drying the lamps in the sun so they would light well in the evening. We would dress in new traditional clothes, fill oil in the lamps, and offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity. The nights came alive with firecrackers, delicious meals, and the warmth of family and friends. Friends and relatives would visit each other with gifts and sweets, strengthening the bonds of community. I also cherished the day devoted to celebrate the bond between brothers, as well as the worship of pen- to honour knowledge. While the traditions, the decorations, the gifts, the diyas, new dress and the fireworks were joyous, the most important memory I carry is of being together with loved ones, sharing laughter, and celebrating unity.
To share this celebration with our Slovak friends, we are organizing a Diwali festival on 12 October at Stará tržnica at Námestie SNP 25 from 12.00 to 16.30. While we cannot bring all aspects of the festival due to local regulations, our Slovak friends still could enjoy Indian dances, music and food.
For the Indian community in Slovakia, celebrating Diwali is also a way of carrying home in their hearts, while sharing India’s culture with Slovak friends. It is a celebration that builds people-to-people connections and strengthens the bonds between our two nations.
As India and Slovakia continue to strengthen their bonds of friendship, festivals like Diwali provide an opportunity to celebrate not only cultural diversity but also our shared human values. The light of Diwali does not belong to one nation alone; it belongs to all who believe in hope, compassion, and renewal.
This year, as lamps glow in Indian homes and candles shine in Slovak windows, may we reflect on the ties that bring us together and look forward to a brighter future.
May the light of Diwali brighten all our lives with peace, prosperity, and harmony.
