Diwali – the festival of lights, the festivalof joy, is beyond just a festival this year in 2021. It is a celebration thatwe need desperately; post the deadly pandemic that broke out due to the Covid10 virus. Diwali is one of the most awaited festivals in India, as it has beena part of our tradition and culture since human civilization came intoexistence! The best part about Diwali is, it has a different significance inevery culture and every state in India.
Diwali has a different significance indifferent cultures. While some celebrate it as the homecoming of Lord Ramaafter his exile and victory over Ravana, some celebrateit as a festival of victory of brightness over darkness. Although Diwali orDeepawali is primarily the festival of lighting diyas by Hindus, however, it iscelebrated with equal pomp and happiness by other religions as well! Indiansjust need a festival… not a religion o celebrate!
No matter what the age, Diwali is important foreveryone! Needless to say, people throng the markets to buy the supplies forpuja, while kids love to shop for firecrackers and their favorite decorations.Diwali is beyond just a festival…. Today, it is more like a season! Diwali isthat one festival on which every house just reverberates with the excitement,music, fragrance of good food; especially the homemade sweets! Students andfamilies staying away, also make it a point to visit home during Diwali.
But if you think Diwali is limited to India –you are sadly mistaken! Today Diwali is a festival that is synonymous withIndians staying anywhere across the globe! The global citizens of Indiacelebrate the festival with equal enthusiasm in zeal!
In this article, we will take a look at howand where Diwali is celebrated all over the world.
Indonesia
Diwali is a very important festival in Indonesiathat is celebrated with a spirit similar to that in India. So much so, thatDiwali has officially been granted the status of official public holiday inIndonesia. Although the volumes in terms of numbers of Indians are not veryhigh in Indonesia, yet this festival enjoys the status of a public holiday.People visit their loved ones, light diyas, and lamps and enjoy the festival oflights with happiness and delight!
Mauritius
Interestingly, Hindus make up almost half theMauritian population. This means that Diwali is a festival that is celebratedwith much fervor and excitement. The beauty of Diwali is, Mauritius looks likea small little fairyland, all lit up and shining. With a public holiday tocelebrate Diwali, kids and adults participate equally by lighting diyas and agreat firecrackers show! The night skies, sparkling with the firecrackers, areasight to watch!
Fiji
Fiji is an island that is small in size, butlarge when it comes to the Indian population residing there. Needless to say,the Indians staying there celebrate Diwali with positivity, happiness, andenthusiasm. The festive spirit of Diwali is awe-inspiring! Since it is a publicholiday in Fiji on the occasion of Diwali, people are in a party mood bycooking aromatic and tasty Indian Mithais and other namkeens and snacks andvisiting their fellow friends and loved ones for exchanging gifts and otherpleasantries.
Nepal
Diwali is also known as Tihar in Nepal.Again, Nepal being the neighboring country of India, has a huge population ofHindus over there, which makes Diwali a very significant festival in Nepal.People in Nepal decorate their houses with lights and worship Goddess Lakshmi.People exchange gifts, sweets, and good wishes throughout the day to mark thecelebration of this auspicious festival.
Malaysia
With a ban on the bursting of crackers,Diwali in Malaysia is celebrated as a green Diwali or Hari Diwali. The ritualsof Diwali in Malaysia are a bit different from those in India. The people whocelebrate Diwali in Malaysia, begin their day taking an oil bath and thenheading to the temple to offer their prayers to the Gods and take theirblessings. People decorate their houses and keep exchanging gifts and sweetsthroughout the day!
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankans also celebrate Diwali with a lotof positive spirit and elation! Of course, with a massive Hindu population, SriLanka and Diwali go hand in hand, since it is a very important place in theHindu Mythology of Ramayana. Hence, Diwali is an equally auspicious festivalfor the Sri Lankans as well! People light small earthen diyas on this publicholiday to ward off any evil spirits and welcome the year ahead with positivityand prosperity! Diwali is one of the most important festivals in Sri Lanka.
Canada
Of course! Canada – a country which is maybemore Indian than India itself! Even though Diwali is not a nationwide holidayin Canada, but that does not make it any lesser as a festival forcelebration! Celebrated across thedifferent towns and cities, Diwali is one festival that people look forward tocelebrating. Owing to the high influx of Punjabis, Canada is also called, ‘MiniPunjab'! Therefore, the excitement running around for Diwali is palpable! Diwali is a very big deal over here and it iscelebrated with equal zeal, enthusiasm, and excitement as in India!
Singapore
Singapore – a country that resonates with thefestive spirit during Diwali! Singapore lights itself a few days ahead ofDiwali, giving you that warm, cozy Diwali-at-home kind of feeling! The countryreplicates our emotions associated with the festival of Diwali with a displayof vivid rangolis and beautiful decorations! Such is their enthusiasm, that youwill get the feel of Diwali more in Singapore than in your own home country!Singapore during Diwali is a feast for the eyes!
United Kingdom
Diwali is celebrated with great fervor andzeal in a few prominent cities in the United Kingdom like Leichester andBirmingham. Wherever the Indian communities are settled in the United Kingdom,Diwali is celebrated in a grand manner over there. Candles, diyas, sweets,decorations, gifts, and most importantly – rituals; you name it and theycelebrate it!
Thailand
The festival of Diwali is called Lam Kriyonghin Thailand. The festival is not the same but quite similar to Diwali as perthe Indian traditions. Thailand looks mesmerizing with the beautiful fireworksthat lit up the night skies during the celebration of the festival.
Trinidad And Tobago
Known for their participation in trades, theCaribbean islands of Trinidad And Tobago are very famous for their Diwalicelebrations. There are plays and theatrical depictions of scenes enacted fromthe Ramayana.
The list of countries that celebrate Diwaliis a long one! However, the above-mentioned countries celebrate the festival asa whole. Countries like the USA, South Africa, Australia, Abu Dhabi, alsocelebrate Diwali but it is usually celebrated by the Indian communities settledin different cities and states spanning across the country! The bottom line is– no matter which country it is, where there are Indians – there is Diwali!