Diwali, often known as the ‘Festival of Lights,’ celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. According to the legend, Lord Rama, an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, triumphantly returned home on this particular day many years ago. Diyas or clay lamps are lighted everywhere, illuminating how they return and guiding them home, and the world is illuminated in a golden light.
How is Diwali Celebrated in the World?
Although Diwali is most commonly celebrated in India, its impacts are much more widespread than you may imagine.
- India: In India, people clean and renovate their houses during Diwali. They decorate their houses and lobbies with fairy lights and clay lamps. In most houses, the doors and lobbies have magnificent floor decorations called “rangolis” adorn them.
- Auckland: The Diwali festival became a mega event to honour Indian culture and tradition. Auckland celebrates the Diwali festival with live music, dance performances, and many other events.
- Melbourne: Melbourne’s Diwali festival has been held in Fed Square since 2010. During this time, Bollywood shows, screenings of Indian movies, live music events, lots of delicious authentic Indian food, and gifting each other have all been offered while the darkness is illuminated by the twinkling lights and perhaps a few fireworks as well.
- Malaysia: In Malaysia, people assemble at the Batu Caves to conduct a Morning Prayer ceremony.
- Sri Lanka: At the temple of Colombo, worshippers from Sri Lanka light oil lamps.
- Dubai: Dubai Festival City in the Gulf emirate is lit and decorated with firework displays.
- Bangladesh: People of Bangladesh decorate their lawns or door fronts with colourful rangolis and houses with fairy lights.
Besides these countries mentioned above, there are so many places in the world where people celebrate Diwali.
