The year, the Hindu festival of Diwali falls on November 4. An important event for many Hindus, Diwali is the widely celebrated “festival of lights”. India holds many different cultures and that means Diwali can mean different things to different people. 

The country’s diversity changes traditions between different regions and is the reason why the pronunciation of the festival’s name varies.

“I’m from the south part of India, so I say Deepavali, but usually when we talk to other people, who don’t know what Deepavali is, we say Diwali,” freshman Siddhartha Rangaraju said. “That’s what I mostly say.”

Despite its differences, its traditions have become an integral part of life for many students that celebrate it.

“It means just having fun times with friends and family, getting together, lighting some crackers,”  Rangaraju said. “That’s really it, just meeting up with people and having fun.”