[img_assist|fid=2076|thumb=1|alt=Diwali Lights]

Photo of Diwali Lights by Sury of (Lima) Beans and Delhi Cha(a)t

Diwali (also called Deepavali) is a major Hindu festival, known as the festival of lights, meant to symbolize the triumph of good over evil. In India, it is one of the most important celebrations of the year, something I learned last year when I first started seeing mentions of it on Indian food blogs. Again this year, I'm seeing interesting foods and Diwali greetings on many Indian blogs. Visit some of my friends and learn about the traditions, foods, and meaning of Diwali.

At Mahanandi, Indira makes Pumpkin Halwa with butternut squash as a Diwali sweet.

Indosungod at Daily Musings wishes all her friends a happy Diwali and shares how her daughter's class is celebrating.

Saffron of Saffron Hut has a recipe for Kaju Kathli or Cashew Diamonds which looks very interesting.

Meena of Hooked on Heat is making a tasty-looking deep fried treat called Shakkarpare for Diwali.

Nandita of Saffron Trail has a series of posts about how she prepares for Diwali and Baked Karanjis that she makes for the celebration. Then for the finale she makes a whole collection of Indian Sweets. (Great recipe links in these posts.)

Indian Food Rocks is making a great looking snack called Paparia.

A Mad Tea Party is also making Paparia, along with Shankarpara.

Meeta from What's For Lunch Honey? is far from home, but she visits the blogs of her friends to get the spirit of Diwali and makes Pesto Spirals and lights Diyas to celebrate in Germany, where she now lives.

At Vyanjanaa, Gunjan is in Missouri and her mother is in India, but they are communicating through the blog where Gunjan shares her mom's recipes. This Diwali she makes samosas and worries that she is not managing to stay closely connected enough to her Indian roots.

Finally, at Cooking Medley, Luv2cook even makes her own Diyas, clay vessels to hold the burning candles for Diwali.

(Added later) I found another fantastic post about Diwali on The Journal of a Girl Who Loves to Cook with a particularly good explanation of the meaning and origin of Diwali as well as some great photos of how to make the Indian sweet Burfi.

Contributing editor Kalyn Denny of Kalyn's Kitchen is still a novice at cooking Indian food but drools on the keyboard when she reads some of these blogs.