For many Hindu’s Diwali is like Christmas in November and one of the many various festivals in Trinidad for 2018. Diwali or Dipavali is a Hindu festival of light. Diwali signifies the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.” Divali is from the Sanskrit dīpāvali meaning “row or series of lights.”

During my early childhood years in Trinidad, Diwali was one of my favourite celebrations because of the food. My neighbours were of East Indian origin and always welcoming in sharing food and treats they made. In Trinidad, Hindus don’t eat any meat during the festival, instead, the focus is on the various vegetarian staples such as roti with channa and potatoes, along with curried mango.

Foodie Nation TT is an excellent spot to download recipes if you are inspired in making local Trinidadian dishes. If you are excited in learning traditional Indian methods, the NDTV.com is the place to visit.

For most Hindus, Diwali marks the return of deities Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. To celebrate their arrival, villagers lighted oil lamps that illuminated the path in the darkness. For others, the festival is linked to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, and her birth on the first day of the five-day long event. It also marks the beginning of the fiscal year in India.

In 2018, Diwali will start on Tuesday, the 6th of November, and will continue for five days until Saturday, the 10th of November.

Here are a couple of videos if you are interested in learning more about Diwali:

If you are planning on stepping out to that Diwali party this year here are some excellent tips on how to dress for the occasion.

The full list of Trinidad Holidays can be found here.

If you celebrate Diwali, share a couple of your favourite dishes in the comment sections below.

Featured Image by Mike Labrum on Unsplash

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