Diwali Lights Up South Asia (PHOTOS)

South Asia's evening gloom is being punctured and punctuated by children's fireworks and sparklers as revelers take to the streets to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights shared by Jains, Hindus and Sikhs. The biggest parties are likely in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, but there are also celebrations closer to home in Trinidad and Tobago. America gets in on the action as as well.

The festival has different significances in different cultures, but there are many common ceremonies. Celebrants keep lamps on during the night and clean their homes. Also -- and more excitingly -- they light a lot of fireworks.

Many Sikhs celebrate the festival by heading to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. The centuries old and rather ostentation holy site was painted gold in the early nineteenth century, which has made it popular with tourists ever since. Amritsar also contains the palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, which now houses a popular museum that showcases the opulence of the Sikh period. The site is an excellent stop for those enjoying an Indian Diwali.

Comments

[rixse]

12:44 AM on 12/09/2011

The writer of the article appears to be returning back to work after a tragic event or is depressed to start of an article by quoting "South Asia's evening gloom...". By the way Diwali is a religious festival celebrated in families and communities. The term "The biggest parties" does not gel well with the theme. On the same note the writer needs to learn to write proper sentences "rather ostentation holy site was painted gold". Two things 1. It should be "rather ostentatious holy...". 2. The term Ostentatious is an adjective and means: pretentious display.

Allow me to correct the ignorant writer...You might want to read the history and also learn to research before writing an article. The temple in Amritsar is not anywhere or anything like what you tried to describe.

[opinionate1]

10:34 AM on 10/28/2011

The Golden Temple was not "painted" gold in the 19th century. It is covered with real gold, initially by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. By the way, your writer's laziness and intolerance is showing. This is a poorly research, poorly written article about a holiday celebrated by a billion people including some HuffPo readers.

[mangafreak2128]

06:07 PM on 10/27/2011

How I wish I were back home for Diwali.

[sandalwood]

04:55 PM on 10/27/2011

Thanks for that... brings back festive memories of Diwali in India.

[Josephine AcostaPasricha]

11:04 AM on 10/27/2011

An interesting feature during Dussehra is the exchange of shami or khejri leaves.
On Diwali night when Lakshmi, consort of Vishnu and goddess of wealth is delivered from demons and thieves, Indians put on rows upon rows of electric lights or lit clay lamps and distribute sweets and money.
The eldest male member of the family leads the prayers and makes puja or offering to the goddess Lakshmi, bathing and soaking newly-minted silver coins engraved with the images of Lakshmi and Ganesh in clay pots containing milk.
"Take gold", relatives and friends say to each other. Its harvest is supposed to bring prosperity, good health and long life. So Indians and their guests also place these shami leaves from folded hands to open hands. For a harvest of prosperity and plenty of good!
This is also to thank relatives and friends for love, friendship and support all the year round.
Just as we thank God for giving us relatives and friends!
Perhaps, this should also be the wish between India and the United States.

[Josephine AcostaPasricha]

11:01 AM on 10/27/2011

Dussehra, October 6, 2011; Diwali, October 26, 2011.

Dussehra is the yearly festival that celebrates the ultimate victory of good over evil. It commemorates events recounted in the epicRamayana, the scripture of Indians. Ramayana is the story of the noble and heroic Prince Rama, exiled for l4 years into the forest, accompanied by wife Sita and brother, Lakshmana. Sita was abducted through a strategem by Ravana, demon king of Lanka. Rama sought to wage war on him, with help of the monkey god, Hanuman and his monkey followers. Hanuman could fly and he was eventually instrumental in defeating Ravana and rescuing Sita.
For ten days, during Dussehra festival, the dramatic presentation of events from the Ramayana shows all over India, North to South, East to West, in every city and town and village. There are nine nights of dancing and music. On Dussehra day itself, while the sun dips and shadows of dusk gather gently around the park, a flaming arrow quivers through the air from the bow of Rama, as thousands of spectators watch it reach its target - a gigantic effigy of Ravana, made of bamboo and painted paper and firecrackers. Then suddenly, there is a shout of jubilation!
The demon Ravana has once again been annihilated as his firecracker-filled effigy explodes. And so each year, the festival ofDussehra recalls with vivid pageantry the final victory of Rama, ideal man; over Ravana, demon king, abductor of women, abuser of children and disruptive of human rights.

[sandalwood]

04:57 PM on 10/27/2011

I have fond memories of growing up in Delhi, and of gathering with thousands at the Ram Lila grounds watching that flaming arrow fly towards 80 foot tall papier-mache Ravanas... and there would be quite a roar from the crowd at that. The Ritual Arts are alive and well in India.