Divali

Divali is a Hindu festival celebrated annually on the fifteenth night of the dark fortnight of the month of Kaartik, which is usually in October or November. In Trinidad and Tobago, Divali is a public holiday as over 40 percent of the population are ethnic Indians.  The day is marked by the lighting of deyas which are made from clay and filled with oil or ghee. Hindus also clean their homes and surroundings, wear new clothing and give charity to the needy on this day.

The week preceding Divali, villages throughout the islands relate the story of Lord Rama and his wife Sita at a Savannah or Ramleela ground in the respective village. This depiction is acted out by members of the village and is normally told in the evening time.  Spectators flock the area to witness the dramatic event.  The highlight of this show is the burning of the evil king Ravana. Most villages build a tall statute out of wood to represent Ravana and when he is lit on fire, this can be seen from miles away. The significance of Divali is the triumph of good over evil and it is dubbed the Festival of lights to represent light overcoming darkness. 

In Trinidad and Tobago, Hindu's would start the day early by saying prayers in the temple or at home.  They would distribute delicacies to family, friends and neighbours as well as invite them to their homes to celebrate the day's festivities.  The traditional sweets that are prepared are laddu, bafi, goolaab jamoon, parsad and khurma.  Trinidad and Tobago is a multi-cultural and multi-religious country and this holiday, like all others is embraced by the population as most households feast on Indian delicacies and roti on this day.  In the night time, villages come to life as the streets are lit with deyas which are placed on bamboo stalks and people walk through the streets to admire the lights and decorations.