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Lights for Gita: A Diwali reading by Manjula Selvarajah

Journalist and CBC producer Manjula Selvarajah reads this celebrated short story about a little girl's first Diwali in Canada.

The CBC journalist reads Rachna Gilmore’s short story about a young girl’s 1st festival of lights in Canada

CBC Radio ·
A hand lighting a row of small clay oil candles with a lighter.
A diya, or oil candle, represents the triumph of light over dark and the power of good over evil during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. (Danielle d'Entremont/CBC)

Lights for Gita is about finding a way to shine even on the darkest of days. 

The short story by Canadian author Rachna Gilmore follows eight-year-old protagonist Gita as she celebrates her first Diwali — the festival of lights — in her new home in Canada. 

But this Diwali feels off. The cold Canadian winter proves to be a far cry from the bright and colourful celebrations she'd known back in India. 

When an ice storm foils her plans for fireworks, and knocks out the power in her neighbourhood, a disappointed and homesick Gita must find a new way to celebrate Diwali.

With the help of her loved ones, Gita learns that even on a cold and dreary Canadian night, she brings the holiday's key message to life — the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Journalist Manjula Selvarajah reads this celebrated short story that was adapted as a National Film Board animated short in 2001.

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world.

From the picture book Lights for Gita by Rachna Gilmore, illustrated by Alice Priestley. Published by Second Story Press.