Happy Deepavali: Festival of Lights

Last Friday, Ron of Fliptravels and I went to Little India to take a look at the celebration of the Indian sector here in Singapore. There were a lot of people on the streets drinking, eating and chatting with probably their friends and family members. There were also a lot of tourists who seemed to be enjoying a peek at the Indian Culture.

But what were they celebrating about? What is Deepavali?

Here’s some information from Wikipedia.

“Deepavali (also spelled Divali in few countries) or Diwali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is the most important festival of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.

The name Diwali is itself a contraction of the word "Deepavali" which translates into row of lamps.Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali.

Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers.”

After the walking tour that we did, both of us were really hungry. And of course an Indian festival wouldn’t be complete without food. Ron and I gobbled more than what we could eat. Both of us were bloated after eating cheese naan, masala, mutton curry and ice coffee.

Happy Deepavali!