Pratima Scharm,7, looks at the light she brought to the celebrate the Festival of Lights, or Diwali, with Concord’s Hindu Community at the State House on Wednesday night, Oct. 18, 2017. The event was hosted by Building Community in NH (formerly Bhutanese Community of NH) and Creating Community.
Pratima Scharm,7, looks at the light she brought to the celebrate the Festival of Lights, or Diwali, with Concord’s Hindu Community at the State House on Wednesday night, Oct. 18, 2017. The event was hosted by Building Community in NH (formerly Bhutanese Community of NH) and Creating Community. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

With candles and ceremonial saris, people headed to the State House on Wednesday to kick off Diwali, the festival of lights, signifying the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair.