

And so people were driving me nuts, trying to get me to do the work before I left. So you have special gifts for all kinds of people, just about everyone you know, including the milkman, the newspaperman and so on. It's really like a little bit like Passover, too, in having to clean your house up before the festival, and then buying gifts for everyone like Christmas. Cleaning of the house, buying gifts for everyone, and everyone was in a frenzy, absolute frenzy. NARAYANAN: Well, all over the place, there were preparations going on. But what was under way? What preparations? I'm sorry you couldn't stay home for the holiday. Well, we really, really thank you for coming on today. NARAYANAN: Just early this morning actually. I understand that you just got back from India. LYDEN: I understand - thank you for being so generous, and it seems like a great season for doing that. NARAYANAN: You could say either one, and you'd still be right because it's a time of fun and festivities, time for fireworks and good food. LYDEN: So in - so I should be saying Diwali? Today, most people call it Diwali, but the original name is Deepavali and that's how it's known in most parts of India. Deepa meaning light and vali meaning a necklace of light or a row of lamps. NARAYANAN: It's traditionally called Deepavali. LYDEN: And you called it exactly - would you repeat the name of the holiday for me? Welcome to the program, and happy Diwali to you. And Vasu Narayanan joins us now from a studio at the University of Florida. Go to npr.org, and click on TALK OF THE NATION. Our email address is And you can join the conversation at our website. We want to hear from people who celebrate this holiday. Vasudha Narayanan, a professor of religion at the University of Florida, describes it as Christmas on steroids. And it's about the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. Known as the festival of lights, the holiday is marked by lighting lamps, setting off fireworks, gathering with family and friends to eat good food, dance and exchange gifts. It's a five-day celebration honoring the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.
Today marks the beginning of the Hindu festival of Diwali.
