C.H. Booth Library recently presented a celebration program in conjunction with the holiday of Diwali.

A henna artist was a featured attraction. There was also a formal presentation about the meaning of the holiday and readings about it, as well as crafts associated with the celebration of Diwali.

The October 18 event was held at Newtown Community Center due to the ongoing construction at C.H. Booth Library.

The Hindu American Foundation says for people “of Indian descent living in India and across the diaspora, Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals.”

The festival’s name derives from the Sanskrit word dipavali, which means “row of lights.” The holiday, which serves as an annual beacon of brightness, celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

It is, also according to the foundation, “a beautiful opportunity to get together with friends and family and rejoice in the light of one another’s company, while preparing for a fruitful year ahead. People commemorate Diwali [sometimes also spelled Divali] in a variety of ways across the culturally diverse regions of India and throughout the world. Celebrated by people of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh belief systems, as well as those from both Indian and non-Indian descent, the festival stretches for five days, starting on the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika.”

In the Gregorian calendar the holiday typically falls in October or November.

As attendees were reminded during the recent program, Connecticut is now the second state, after Pennsylvania, to recognize Diwali. In August, Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act 25-59 into law.

“Suitable exercises may be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day,” according to the recently enacted legislation.