Divali, Festival of Lights

Divali has become a part of the national landscape of Trinidad and Tobago, and is celebrated as the ‘Festival of Lights’. Its main feature is the lighting of rows of clay oil lamps or ‘diyas’ after dusk. Family and friends gather together to share in a Divali feast and to partake of the festivities.  The festival has gone on to become a national holiday, with many cultural and religious events held to celebrate the occasion.

On the days preceding the Festival of Lights, Hindus engage in fasting and abstinence from meat, and offer prayers to the Goddess Lakshmi, who represents material and spiritual wealth. Hindus in Trinidad also use the time for deep cleaning and renovating their homes, purchasing new clothes and maintaining their surroundings. Employees and state officials often dress in East Indian ethnic wear and a variety of performances, featuring aspects of Indian and Hindu culture, are aired at live events and on national television. The highlight of Divali, however, is the lighting of diyas, clay lamps filled with oil, after sunset, a very fascinating experience that should never be missed.