Trinidad and Tobago Celebrates the Festival of Lights

Tiny flames dancing in miniature earthen bowls, filled with oil, sit atop ornate bamboo frames, transforming otherwise mundane spaces into veritable fairylands. This is Divali – the Hindu Festival of Lights. The symbolic act of lighting deeyas (small clay bowls, filled with oil and a wick) signifies the essence of Divali and one of the world’s most universally-held beliefs – that of light conquering darkness or good conquering evil.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the festival has taken on national proportions as weeks prior to the day of Divali, communities all over the islands get together and celebrate the festival with Lakshmi Puja (communal prayer), lighting deeyas, singing Bhajans or religious songs, dances and music. One major celebration, however, stands out - Divali Nagar, or Village of the Festival of Lights.

Divali Nagar runs for nine nights ending in the night before Divali day. This year, the Nagar opens on Thursday, October 12, 2006 and ends on Friday, October 20.

The festival features performances by the cream of the east Indian cultural practitioners on its main stage, a folk theatre featuring skits and dramas, an exhibition on some aspect of Hinduism, displays by various Hindu religious sects and social organizations, nightly worship of Mother Lakshmi, lighting of myriad deeyas, performances by various schools related to Indian culture, and a food court of mouth watering Indian and non-Indian vegetarian delicacies. The festival culminates with magnificent fireworks displays ushering in Divali. Thousands participate each night in an atmosphere devoid of alcohol and in a true family environment.

Divali day is very special as the entire country is lit up by thousands and thousands of deeyas. Some villages are sights to behold as they celebrate their festival with joy and merry-making as they usher in Mother Lakshmi with all her glorious blessings for home, for community and for the country.

For weeks prior to Divali, Hindus prepare themselves, their homes, their Mandirs for the festival. Homes and Mandirs and the environs are all thoroughly cleaned, repainted and redecorated. Hindus observe a period of abstinence or fasting and conduct Pujas or worship to the Goddess Lakshmi, the presiding Deity of the Festival. It is strongly believed by Hindus that Mother Lakshmi will not enter any home, mandir, or environment where there is uncleanliness and unworthy attitudes and behavior.

On Divali day, luscious vegetarian meals are prepared, Lakshmi Puja or worship is performed and homes are all lit with thousands of Deeyas. It has become customary among the orthodox Hindus not to leave their homes on Divali night and so friends of other religious faiths are invited to participate in the lighting up and in savouring of the delicious meals that are prepared.

Divali has special significance for children as they are all given new clothes to wear and are loaded with gifts. There is an atmosphere of freedom, friendliness and festivity everywhere. The festival with its universal message is now more and more being celebrated by those of other beliefs as the universal message spreads.

The Tourism Development Company Limited is proud to be a sponsor of Divali Nagar 2006.

For a complete listing of all the events at the Nagar, click here.