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Celebrate Diwali spirit, light up your life

Diwali is an official holiday in a number of countries as a mark of respect for different communities and religions that celebrate this festival

Earthen oil lamps light up the neighbourhood, flickering candles brighten up homes; firecrackers illuminate smoke-filled skies, and an exciting feeling of togetherness with family and loved ones pervades the atmosphere. This is Diwali, the festival of lights, which has different religious variations but the festive spirit binds everyone with a common thread of celebrations and happiness. Whatever the faith, everyone forgets their differences and simply gravitate to the frenzy and partake in the celebrations. 
Spread and reach
The festival of lights is not just enjoyed and feted in the Indian subcontinent. It is celebrated with much fervour across the world. Interestingly, Diwali is an official holiday in a number of countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.
Carnival-like celebrations in various countries have endeared Diwali to local cultures as well. Other countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, the Netherlands, Canada, the U.K., and U.S. celebrate this festival at a greater scale and with much gaiety.
Commercial aspect
Diwali, like most other festivals, has a distinct commercial appeal to it. In the UAE, jewellers launch special deals and promotions. In Dubai, popular markets for buying gold such as Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai and Gold Souk in Deira are adorned in sparkling yellow lights. The narrow alleys are bustling with customers looking to buy a piece of gold, or diamond and bring home good luck, as the legend suggests.
On the retail front, sweet shops, gift shops, and eateries hit a jackpot as the sales surge incrementally during the festive season. Fashion designers launch new collections exclusively designed for the occasion, and jewellers introduce deals and promotions offering discounts to lure buyers. In the UAE, latest collections are displayed during Diwali exhibitions hosted around the country.
Traditional sweetmeats that once enjoyed monopoly as Diwali gifts are now giving way to less fattening, sugar-free, salty and sour savouries - giving a chance to big confectionery companies to take a bite of the festive pie.
All in all, it is the positive vibe of the festival and its underlying message of victory of good over evil lifts the spirit and fills it with hope every year for a better tomorrow.
- suneeti@khaleejtimes.com