[Photograph of a speaker at a Diwali celebration in Burnaby]

Photograph of an unidentified individual addressing the audience at a Diwali celebration hosted by the City of Burnaby and sponsored by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of BC and the Canadian Ramgarhia Society. The event took place at the Bonsor Recreation Centre in Burnaby, British Columbia (B.C.).

Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is a major religious festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, and translates to "the Festival of Lights." The festival lasts five days: the first day is known as Dhanteras; followed by Choti Diwali; Lakshmi Puja, which is the main celebration; Govardhan Puja; and finally Bhai Dooj. The festival is typically marked by the cleaning and decorating of homes, as well as the lighting of diyas and rangoli designs. Each region in India and religion has their own manner of celebrating Deepavali and their own gods to be worshipped.

Officially registered as the Hindu Cultural Society and Community Centre of B.C., the Hindu Temple of Burnaby, previously known as Vishva Hindu Parishad temple, stands as one of Canada's oldest and largest Hindu temples. It was founded on May 15, 1972 as a small prayer hall in North Burnaby, dedicated to preserving and promoting Hindu culture and traditions.

The Canadian Ramgarhia Society is a charitable organization dedicated to the religious, social, cultural, and educational advancement of its community members. Originally located in Burnaby, British Columbia, the society has since relocated to Surrey, where it manages the Gurdwara Sahib Brookside.