Deepavali or Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It is the festival of lights: deep means “light” and avali “a row” to become “a row of lights.” It is marked by four days of celebration. Historically, Diwali can be traced back to ancient India. It most likely began as an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali. Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, with Lord Vishnu. Read more here.
Pope Francis (1936–2025): A Beacon of Peace, Spirituality, and Compassion
Pope Francis — born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936 to Italian immigrant parents — made history as the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to ascend to the papacy in the Church’s two-millennia-long tradition. Upon his election, he chose the name...