This year marks the first time the Glen Ridge School District has given people time off for Diwali. Diwali is a Hindu holiday that celebrates the rescue of the Indian Princess Sita from the evil demon King Ravana. The Story of Diwali begins when Dashratha, King of Ayodhya, has four sons from three different wives, these different wives start to fight over which son will get the throne next, and this disagreement leads to Prince Rama, Prince Lakshman and Rama’s wife Sita to be sent into exile. They then settle in a forest and live there for several years, until the Demon Ravana kidnaps Sita and imprisons her on his island. Rama and Lakshman then meet Humuman a monkey god on their way to the island, with the help of his monkey army they construct a bridge to the island, with floating rocks. The epic then hits its climax when Rama kills Ravana after a ten-day battle and rescues Sita. The actual holiday celebrates their return to their kingdom, in which everyone would light a little candle or dia in celebration.
