A Diwali celebration was held Wednesday morning in the Rotunda of the Legislative Building, with the Speaker of the Alberta House of Representatives hosting the event.

Nathan Cooper, Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly, hosted the event and was joined by Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Rajan Sawhney, Alberta Minister of Advanced Education, and NDP MP Rakhi Pancholi on October 30.

Diwali, a national holiday in India, is celebrated by exchanging gifts and visiting friends and family. People celebrating Diwali light oil lamps, candles and fireworks as a symbol of the inner light that protects one from spiritual darkness.

A special prayer in honor of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi is performed in the evening and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.