Lights and candles will shine outside and inside Hindu students’ houses and apartments tomorrow in celebration of Diwali.

“The symbolism of that is the victory of the good over evil or light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance,” said Surinder Bhardwaj, geography professor emeritus and Hindu wedding priest. “This is somewhat like the Christmas of Christianity.”

Diwali is the celebration of Lord Rama, who is one of the reincarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu, returning home after a victory over the demon Ravana, Bhardwaj explained.

Students will also be celebrating the holiday by exchanging sweets and buying new clothes for the new year, which starts the next day. On the New Year’s day, Hindus cook food and bring it to the temples, explained Aditya Prahalad, president of the Indian Student Association.

“The moment you walk in and you get the whole thing, your mouth starts to water,” Prahalad said. “It’s traditional and made in a traditional way.”

Students can experience Diwali for themselves during the Indian Student Association’s Diwali celebration at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Michael Schwartz Center auditorium. The event will feature traditional Indian dance and a large Indian feast. The tickets are $15. For more information, contact President Aditya Prahalad at [email protected].

— April Samuelson