Celebrated in October or November, Diwali (Dīvali, Dīpāwali, or Deepavali) often happens close to Día de los Muertos, a celebration I cherish for the safe space it creates to process grief. As a result, this time of year frequently brings up conversations with friends who celebrate Diwali about the similarities between the two holidays. One element that stands out is how food fosters social connections in our different cultures.  During Diwali, people come together to celebrate the triumph of good over evil and honour the light we carry within. The festival varies in meaning among Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhi. Día de los Muertos combines Aztec traditions with All Souls’ Day, a holiday Spanish colonizers imposed in Anáhuac (a region which now encompasses Mexico) at the...