Employers have been asked to allow time off today for workers from India wishing to celebrate Diwali - the festival of light.
The equivalent of Christmas in India, it is celebrated by many different cultures and religions in Asia.
There are around 45,000 people from India in Ireland celebrating the main day of the Diwali festival today.
However, Prashant Shukla of the Ireland India Council said many Indian people here find it hard to get time off work to celebrate their most important day in the year.
He has asked Irish employers to be more accommodating and said, in return, Indian people should offer to work over Christmas.
Diwali traditions vary but it started when people lit lights to welcome home Lord Rama in ancient times.
The word Diwali comes from a Sanskrit word meaning 'rows of lights'.
Hindus also honour the Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
Nikesh Barekh, who has been living in Ireland for three years, said it is believed that Lakshmi comes to visit on the night of Diwali.
He was celebrating the night before Diwali with his wife Manasi Raut and friend Mihar Bhatt.
Mihar, who like Nikesh is also working in Ireland, said Diwali is an auspicious day and the Indian stock exchange opens for one hour so people can invest a token amount.
Manasi said cooking is an important part of the celebrations with 20 different sweet and savoury dishes traditionally served.
They are made from recipes passed down through generations.
She says Diwali is not the same without her mother and mother-in-law and she believes she will only be able to make around five dishes.
"We are making small memories in Ireland now because clearly we cannot travel back to India all the time," she said.
