Priya's Diwali Lights
Priya helps her family get ready for Diwali, the festival of lights — and learns why the little lamps matter so much.
In Priya's house, everyone was busy. Mama was sweeping the floor until it sparkled. Papa was hanging strings of twinkly lights around the windows. Grandma was in the kitchen, and the whole house smelled of cardamom and warm sugar.
"Diwali is almost here!" Priya sang, twirling in her new purple dress.
Diwali is the festival of lights. Families in India and all around the world celebrate it by lighting lamps, sharing sweets and spending time together.
Grandma handed Priya a small clay lamp shaped like a little bowl. "This is a diya," she said. "Tonight you will help me fill the diyas with oil and light them."
Priya carefully painted her diya with orange and pink dots. Then she helped Grandma make a rangoli — a beautiful pattern of colored powder on the floor by the front door. They made flowers and swirls in red, yellow and green.
"Why do we light so many lamps?" Priya asked.
Grandma smiled. "Diwali celebrates light winning over darkness, and good winning over bad. Each little lamp is a reminder that even a small light can make a dark place bright."
When the sun went down, the family lit the diyas one by one and placed them on the windowsills, the steps and the balcony. Soon the whole street glowed with tiny flames.
Neighbors came by with boxes of sweets. Priya shared her favorite ladoos with her friend Max from next door, who had never celebrated Diwali before.
"It's so beautiful," Max whispered, looking at all the lights.
Priya handed him a diya. "Here — this one is for you. Now you can help make things bright too."
⭐ The End ⭐
💬 Talk about it
- What is Diwali also called?
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The festival of lights. - What is a diya?
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A small clay lamp. - What does each little lamp remind people of?
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That even a small light can make a dark place bright.
