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TRANSCRIPT
Diwali
Lights everywhere
What is Diwali?Diwali is called the Festival of Lights and, officially, is celebrated to honor Rama-chandra, the seventh avatar (incarnation of the god Vishnu).
However, many Indians who celebrate Diwali do so based on their local customs. So, often those from India celebrate Diwali as the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.
Diwali usually lasts around five days, and takes place in the month of Kartika (mid-October to November).
What is Diwali?Diwali is a festival of light. Its name means “a row of lights”. Those celebrating Diwali arrange their lights and ignite them, signifying the success of light (good) over dark (evil).
These rows of lights are made up of clay lamps called ‘diya’, which are filled with vegetable oil or ghee.
Often these are accompanied by patterns drawn in coloured flowers, sand, salt rice powder or quartz powder. These patterns are called rangoli.
Diya
Rangoli
Who celebrates Diwali?Diwali is most strongly associated with Hindus, the largest religious group in India, with around 966 million followers in India.
Who celebrates Diwali?However,
Sikhs: Jains: and Buddhists:
also celebrate Diwali.
Who celebrates Diwali. Despite tension between India (Hindu) and Pakistan (Muslim), Muslims also often celebrate Diwali, as part of a shared historical heritage with India.
Indeed, every Diwali, Indian and Pakistani soldiers approach the border between India and Pakistan to share Diwali gifts, which are often sweets and pastries.
Sharing is an important concept in Diwali, as is light versus dark and celebrating the Goddess Lakshmi.
Who celebrates Diwali?However, Diwali is a global event, and is celebrated anywhere Indians have migrated.
In Britain, there are two large Diwali festivals: one in London and one in Leicester.
What do those celebrating do?Diwali is a festival of light, sharing, and enjoying family and culture.
For light, other than the diyas (lamps), people have firework displays. Many also float sky lanterns.
People also give presents to friends and family.
But what about food?Food and sharing is a huge part of the Diwali celebration. Many communities share with friends, neighbours, and family. But what are Indians eating during Diwali?
Sweet and savoury snacks
Samosas
Sweet and savoury snacks
Mathri
Namak Pare
Sweet and savoury snacks
Gulub Jamun