Diwali, otherwise known as the festival of lights, occurs this year on October 27th. As the celebration nears, learn more about the rituals associated with the Hindu holiday, whether you are Hindu yourself or want to learn more about this rich culture.
Background on Diwali
Diwali is a major Hindu holiday, in fact, the most important holiday of the year and is celebrated across India and South East Asia. It’s associated with Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and happiness, as well as in honoring Rama-chandra, the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu.
As the legend goes, Diwali is the day Rama-chandra returned for 14 years of exile, where he fought and won a battle over demons and the demon king. Diwali is considered a celebration of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil.
Diwali festivities differ by region, but most commonly the days of Diwali are celebrated with fireworks, cleansing rituals, and meals with friends and family. Being a hindu festival of renewal and light, people also clean their homes and buy new clothing. Another important part of Diwali is recognizing the inner light in oneself.
The Diwali Glow powered by Ayurvedic Skin Care
One way to get glowing skin for Diwali is to incorporate Ayurvedic practices into your skin care. Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient, holistic health practice that aims to have mind, body, and spirit, aligned with the universe to achieve optimal health. As this practice is thousands of years old, this topic has a lot of depth and could be a topic all its own, so we’ll just be glancing over some principles of it today.
Ayurveda herbal oils are a mainstay of the practice, whether they are consumed, used as massage oils, or for skin and hair benefits. Some key ones for Diwali are Amla, derived from the Indian gooseberry; Brahmi, an herb found all over the world; and Fenugreek, a seed commonly known as Methi.
Amla is the perfect herbal oil for Diwali because it contains high amounts of antioxidants, like vitamin C, that help the skin stay looking youthful and glowing. It can also be used in your hair for the same effect! When using it in your hair, however, be careful to buy an all-natural juice without damaging preservatives in it, like sodium benzoate. Bahmi and Fenugreek are also both high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that particularly help promote the regeneration of skin, helping your recovery from your Diwali celebrations.
One more thing that will help you get the perfect glow for Diwali—our own Radiance Boosting face serum! We use caviar limes and wild plum extract that, like Amla, are high in antioxidants like vitamin C to create a natural glow to the skin. You can click on each ingredient to go on a deep dive of their specific benefits.
Post- Celebration Recovery
An intense celebration and days of dinner parties full of sweets and treats can leave not just your body feeling drained, but your skin as well. Not to mention the air pollution that can come from fireworks. After the Diwali celebrations are over, take time to make sure your skin recovers properly.
For our post-Diwali recovery, we recommend cleansing, soothing, and moisturizing. If your skin is already irritated from pollution, don’t further aggravate it with harsh exfoliants or stripping cleansers (chances are, your skin has already been stripped of enough natural oils).
It’s important to get rid of any toxins from pollution or leftover makeup, so use a gentle cleanser, like our Deeply Cleansing Milk. Soothe your skin with a facial mask packed with natural antioxidants, like from avocado or rosehip oil. Finally, pack on a good moisturizer to seal everything in and keep skin from flaking.
