Celebrating Diwali

The Benzinger Lab celebrated Diwali with an amazing lunch organized by clinical research coordinator Jayashree Rajamanickam, postdoc Saurabh Jindal, research technician Deepa Thakuri, clinical research study assistant Kumudini Myla and research technician Rohan Sharma. The annual joint holiday lunch is enjoyed by Benzinger, Ances, Gordon and Raji labs.

Diwali is the five-day “festival of lights” — celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists — and gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that celebrants light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This is done during the height of the festival on day three (this year on Nov. 4). Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over dark and good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom and enlightenment.

The homemade food was so delicious — no restaurant could compare. During a time when some of our lab members miss their families, it was a great joy to celebrate this festival with work family.