Trinidad and Tobago: Diwali celebration and other facts

Photo: The Hindu Temple complex and the 26-meter-tall (85 ft) Hanuman Statue, the tallest Hanuman Murti outside India, in Central Trinidad

Photo: Divali Nagar (City of Lights), located in the town of Chaguanas, where the annual exposition of Hindu and Indo-Trinidadian culture, associated with the celebration of Diwali in Trinidad and Tobago, takes place

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the birthplace of Steelpans (steel drums or pans), Calypso (Afro-Caribbean music), Soca (soul calypso) limbo (a popular form of contra dancing), and well-known for its Carnival, is also one of the countries outside India that celebrate Diwali in a significant manner.

Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic country situated in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the South American country of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles.

The country consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous smaller islands covering an area of 5,128 square kilometers (1,980 squire miles). Most of the country's population (96% of 1,229,953 people as of July 2010 est.) lives in Trinidad and 4% of the population reside in Tobago.

Two major ethnic groups in the country are the Indo-Trinidadians and the Afro-Trinidadians in Trinidad, and Indo-Tobagonians and Afro-Tobagonians in Tobago, accounting for about 80% of the population. According to the 2000 census, people of Indian origin (South Asians) make up 40% of the population, the rest of the population being African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, others 1.2%, and unspecified 0.8%.

Indo-Trinidadians (about 40%) constitute the country's largest ethnic group. They are primarily the descendants of indentured workers from India, brought here by the colonial rulers to work mainly in sugar plantations.

About half of the people of the Indian community follow their original native religions, and the rest have converted to Christianity, or have no religious affiliations (including atheists and agnostics). Through many cultural and religious groups, Trinidadians of Indian descent maintain many of their customs, traditions and rituals.

A major festival of Trinidad and Tobago that stands out is the Diwali Nagar exposition (also spelled Divali Nagar, meaning City of Lights), an annual exposition of Hindu culture broadly, and Indo-Trinidadian culture specifically, staged at the Divali Nagar Site, located in the town of Chaguanas.

Diwali Nagar exposition mainly features stage performances by east Indian cultural practitioners, a folk theatre featuring skits and plays, an exhibition on aspects of Hinduism, displays by various Hindu religious sects and social organizations, nightly worship of Goddess Lakshmi, lighting of Diwali diyas (lamps), performances by various schools related to Indian culture, and a food court serving Indian and non-Indian vegetarian delicacies.

The Diwali festival culminates with magnificent fireworks displays ushering in Diwali. Thousands of people participate in the celebrations in an atmosphere devoid of alcohol and in a true family environment.

The influence of Hinduism can be seen in the Hanuman Murti statue and Hindu Temple complex in Central Trinidad, which is famous for the tallest Hanuman Murti (26 meter/ 85 feet) outside India.

Followers of Hinduism constitute only 22.5% of the population, while the rest of the people are Roman Catholic (26%), Anglican (7.8%), Baptist (7.2%), Pentecostal (6.8%), Muslim (5.8%), Seventh Day Adventist (4%), other Christians (5.8%), others 10.8%, unspecified (1.4%), and people following no religions (1.9%) as per the 2000 census.

The main languages of Trinidad and Tobago are English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish and Chinese.

Christchurch Diwali Festival 2010

Diwali 2010, originally uploaded by johnstewartnz.

Photo: A Rajasthani dancer performs at the Christchurch Diwali Festival

New Zealand, an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean situated about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, is noted for its multiculturalism. Though the majority of New Zealand's population is of European descent, the indigenous Maori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and non-Maori Polynesians, especially in urban areas.

New Zealand ranks highly in international comparisons on many topics, including education, economic freedom, and most importantly lack of corruption and its cities also consistently rank among the world's most livable cities.

Though New Zealand is culturally and linguistically part of Polynesia, contemporary New Zealand culture is mainly derived from British roots, with significant influences from American, Australian and European cultures, and recently non-Maori Polynesian and Asian cultures.

New Zealand's fastest growing ethnic groups are Asians, who celebrate festivals like the Auckland Lantern Festival, Indian festivals such as Diwali, and festivals of other Asian traditions. Large festivals, in celebration of Diwali and Chinese New Year, are held in several of the larger centers. The world's largest Polynesian festival, Pasifika, is an annual event in Auckland.

Diwali and the myth of Narakasura

Photo: Krishna and Satyabhama fighting Narakasura's armies, painting from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA.

Deepavali (Divali or Diwali) literally means ‘row of lights’. According to one legend, the festival is celebrated on the occasion of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama killing the Demon Narakasura. Another legend says the festival is celebrated on the occasion of return of Lord Rama and Sita to the Kingdom of Ayodhya after fourteen years in exile.

In Hindu mythology, Narakasura (or Naraka) is the Asura (demon) son of Goddess Earth (Bhudevi or Bhumi) and Lord Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) Avatar (incarnation). Some other legends say that Narakasura is the son of the Asura, Hiranyaksha.

Narakasura established the kingdom of Pragjyotisha in Assam defeating the last of the Danava king Ghatakasura. As it was foretold that he would be killed by a later incarnation of Vishnu, Goddess Earth sought a boon from Vishnu that her son should have a long life, and he should be all powerful. Vishnu readily granted these boons.

In the history of Assam, Narakasura is cited as the progenitor of many dynasties that ruled Kamarupa in its golden times. He is also associated with the myth of the Shakta Goddess and the place of worship, Kamakhya.

Narakasura joined forces with another Asura, Banasura, and brought all the kingdoms on earth under his rule, conquered Swargaloka, and defeated Indra. Thus Narakasura became the overlord of the heavens and the earth. Also, he abducted and imprisoned 16,100 women in his palace. Besides, he stole the earrings of Aditi, the heavenly mother goddess, and usurped her territory.

Defeated and helpless, the Devas, led by Indra, complained against Narakasura to Lord Vishnu who promised that he will mitigate their plight when he will be incarnated as Lord Krishna.

During the Krishna Avatar of Vishnu, Aditi, who was a relative of Satyabhama (an Avatar of Bhudevi), approached Satyabhama for help. Upon this, because of Narakasuara's ill-treatment of women and Aditi, Satyabhama asked Lord Krishna’s permission to wage a war against Narakasura.

As promised to the Devas and Aditi, Krishna attacked the fortress of Narakasura, riding his mount Garuda with wife Satyabhama. The battle was fierce, as Narakasura unleashed his huge armies of Asuras on Krishna. But the Lord slew them all, and killed Mura, Narakasura's general, because of which Krishna is also called Murari (the enemy of Mura).

In desperation, Narakasura launched Sataghni (a thunderbolt) on Krishna, but it made no impact on Krishna. Finally, when Narakasura tried to kill the Lord with a trident, Krishna beheaded him with his Sudarshana Chakra.

Before dying, Narakasura requested a boon from Krishna that his death anniversary be celebrated by all people on earth. So, the day of his death is celebrated as 'Naraka Chaturdashi', the first day of Diwali.

In another version, Narakasura had gained a boon from Brahma that he would die only at the hands of his mother. So, Satyabhama, along with Krishna, fought Narakasura bravely, but she was no match to him. When Narakasura got a chance, he took aim at Krishna, hurting him lightly. Krishna fainted in a preordained, divine plan adopted to empower Satyabhama.

On seeing the fainted Krishna, Satyabhama was furious, fought fiercely, and killed the demon finally. Before dying, he requested a boon from his mother (Satyabhama) that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful lights. Thus this day is celebrated as the first day of Diwali, 'Naraka Chaturdashi'.

The victory on Narakasura resulted in freedom for all his prisoners, and honoring of Aditi and Lord Krishna rescued all the 16,100 imprisoned women, and married them to restore their former dignity.

Kandeels: paper lanterns lighted during Diwali

A Kandeel [Sanskrit: Akasha Deepa (lantern of the sky), Kannada: Goodu Deepa (Nested light) or Nakshatra Gudu (Star like nest)], is a colorful decorative lantern made of wooden frame and covered papers. These are generally hung in front of homes during Diwali (or Deepavali meaning Festival of Lights), sometimes for around a month from the first day of Diwali.

Kandeels are traditionally built in a crystal shape with tails at the bottom. But in modern times, people created Kandeels in different shapes of stars, globes, airplanes, or any shape that suits their imagination, but the central idea is to make the Festival of Lights more impressive and colorful.

Diwali (also spelt Divali) is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism, and celebrated in India, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Mauritius, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Fiji, Surinam, and other places where people of Indian origin and/ or Hindu/ Sikh/ Jain faiths live.

Vel Kavady during Thaipusam festval

Statue of Lord Shiva in Mauritius

Mauritius, the island nation off the coast of continental Africa in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers east of Madagascar, is the only country in Africa where Hinduism is the dominant religion, with about 52 per cent of the population following Hinduism, as of 2000. Hinduism originally came to Mauritius with Indians who worked as indentured servants of the European settlers of the island. The first Hindus of Mauritius arrived mostly from the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

One of the biggest Hindu festivals in Mauritius is Maha Shivaratri (Great Night of Lord Shiva), which takes place in the months of February/March. Four to nine days of ceremony and fasting lead up to an all-night vigil of Lord Shiva worship. Other important Hindu festivals in Mauritius are Thaipusam (honoring Lord Murugan), Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali, the festival of lights.

Video: Maha Kumbha Mela 2010

Watercolor on paper: Radha and Krishna playing Holi

Image: 19th century opaque watercolor and gold on paper showing Radha and Krishna, along with Gopis playing Holi. Source: Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Gallery; Author: Anonymous.

In Vrindavan and Mathura (in Uttar Pradesh, India), where Lord Krishna grew up, Holi festival is celebrated for 16 days until Rangpanchmi in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna. Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the Gopis here. Krishna is believed to have complained to his mother about the contrast between his dark skin complexion and Radha's fair skin complexion. Upon this, Krishna's mother decided to apply colour to Radha's face. The celebrations usher in spring, the celebrated season of love.
Gopi is a word of Sanskrit language origin meaning 'cowherd girl'. In Hinduism the name Gopi (sometimes Gopika) is used more commonly to refer to cowherd girls popular in Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion (Bhakti) to Krishna, as described Bhagavata Purana and other Puranic literatures.

Holi Festival in India - Welcoming Flowers with Colours

Kumbh Mela in Haridwar - Video

Haridwar is currently hosting the Purna Kumbha Mela from Makar Sankranti (14th January 2010) to Shakh Purnima Snan (28th April 2010), attracting millions of pilgrims from almost all walks of life, and from around the world. According to Indian astrology, it is celebrated when the planet of Brahaspati (Jupiter) moves into the zodiac sign of Aquarius (Kumbha).

The Purna Kumbh Mela takes place at four locations of India: Prayag (Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh), Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), and Nashik (Maharashtra) after every twelve years, while the Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag. The Maha Kumbh Mela ('Great' Kumbh Mela) that comes after 12 'Purna Kumbh Melas' (every 144 years) is held at Prayag (Allahabad). Each location’s celebration dates are calculated in advance according to a special combination of zodiacal positions of Sun, Moon and Jupiter.

Kumbh Mela is attended by millions of people on a single day (according to reports, the Maha Kumbh Mela of 2001 was attended by about 60 million people, making it the largest gathering anywhere in the world). The major event of the festival is a ritual bath. Other activities include religious discourses, devotional songs, religious assemblies, etc. Many thousands of holy men and women (monks, saints and sadhus) attend the religious fair. The sadhus are seen clad in saffron cloths as per the requirements of ancient traditions. Some saints called Naga Sanyasis may be seen without any clothes even in severe winter.

After visiting the Kumbh Mela of 1895, Mark Twain wrote, “It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love, or it is done in fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of people, the cold whites.”

The auspicious bathing dates of Haridwar Purna Kumbha Mela are as follows:

• 14 January 2010 (Thursday) - Makar Sankranti Snan
• 15 January 2010 (Friday) - Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan
• 20 January 2010 (Wedesday) - Basant Panchmi Snan
• 30 January 2010 (Saturday) - Magh Purnima Snan
• 12 February 2010 (Friday) - Maha Shivratri - Pratham Shahi Snan (First Royal Bath)
• 15 March 2010 (Monday) - Somvati Amavasya - Dvitya Shahi Snan (Second Royal Bath)
• 16 March 2010 (Tuesday) - Navsatrambh Snan
• 24 March 2010 (Wednesday) - Ram Navmi Snan
• 30 March 2010 (Tuesday) - Chaitra Purnima Snan
• 14 April 2010 (Wednesday) - Baisakhi - Pramukh Shahi Snan (Main Royal Bath)
• 28 April 2010 (Wednesday) - Shakh Purnima Snan

Holi celebrations across India

Holi, the festival of colors, is a popular spring festival observed in India, Nepal, some of the South East Asian countries, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad, the UK and many other parts of the world. During the celebrations people apply colors on each other, light bonfires, distribute sweets and other delicacies, perform prayers, and they sing, dance, dine and make Holi an enjoyable celebration.

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalugna (Falguna or Phalgun Purnima), in the late February or early March. It is a major festival in most of north India, while in other parts Holi is celebrated with slight variations.

As legends say, the bonfires are lit to celebrate the miraculous escape of young Prahlad, the son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who had ordered his sister Holika to carry Prahlad into the fire and burn him. But Holika was burnt and Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu was safe due to his devotion.

Another legend is regarding Kamadeva (Kama), the god of love. He shot his arrow of love and lust at Lord Shiva to help Parvati to marry Shiva. But then Shiva opened his third eye, the power of which burned Kama to ashes. But for the sake of Kama's wife Rati (passion), Shiva restored him as a mental image, representing true emotional and mental state of love rather than physical lust.

In Vrindavan and Mathura, where Lord Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated for 16 days to mark the divine love of Radha for Krishna. Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the neighborhood girls. Legend says, Krishna complained to his mother about his dark color and his consort Radha's fair color, when Krishna's mother applied color on Radha's face, and that is the basis for applying color on the occasion of Holi. The Holi is in spring, the celebrated season of love.

In Mathura, the birth place of Lord Krishna, this day is celebrated with special prayers. All over the Braj region and its nearby places like Hathras, Aligarh, Agra Holi is celebrated in more or less same way as in Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana.

Bengalis celebrate Holi as Dol Yatra or the swing festival where the idols of Krishna and Radha are placed on swings and women sing devotional songs, throw colors and perform dances as devotees take turns to swing the idols.

In Orissa people celebrate Holi in a similar manner but the idols of Lord Jagannath, the deity of the Jagannath Temple of Puri, replace the idols of Krishna and Radha.

Holi is celebrated with great fanfare in Gujarat with colors, singing and dancing. In Maharashtra, Holi is mainly associated with the burning of Holika and the fun of playing with colors.

In Manipur, in northeastern India, Holi is celebrated for six days. Introduced in the eighteenth century with Vaishnavism, it soon merged with the centuries old festival of Yaosang.

Civilians as well as the Indian security forces celebrate Holi in Jammu & Kashmir. Holi, the festival to mark the harvesting of the summer crop, is celebrated by the throwing of colored water and powder and singing and dancing.

In south India Holi is an outcome of the influence of the media, movies, marketing and migration. There are lots of people from north India living in different parts of southern Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka and they celebrate Holi and the locals too join them in the celebrations.

The spring season may cause viral fever, cold, etc. due to climate changes. So applying natural colors has a medicinal significance. The colors used for Holi celebrations are traditionally made from medicinal plants like Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva and other medicinal herbs. And such colors can cure seasonal ailments. But commercialization of the celebration brought in artificial colors, which can contain toxic chemicals, and these are to be avoided.

Students smeare each other with color powder during Holi

Students smeared each other with color powder during Holi celebrations in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta. The tradition of Holi heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated across India. Photo- Jayanta Shaw:Reuters, originally uploaded by johnhanscom.

Students smear each other with color powder during Holi celebrations in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta, India. The tradition of Holi heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated across India.

School children celebrate Holi

School children throw coloured powder as they celebrate Holi, the Indian festival of colours, in the Indian city of Ahmadabad. [bbc], originally uploaded by johnhanscom.

School children throw colored powder as they celebrate Holi, the Indian festival of colors, in the Indian city of Ahmadabad in Gujarat.

Colors, Holi, Bangalore

Colors, Holi, Bangalore, originally uploaded by Sandip Debnath.

Happy Deepawali

Happy Deepawali ..., originally uploaded by wanderlust1979.

The author adds:
Deepawali, or Diwali is a major Indian festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Lights," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. Diwali is celebrated on the first day of the lunar Kartika month, which comes in the month of October or November.
In many parts of India, it is the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile in the forest, after he defeated the evil Ravana. The people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (awali) of lamps (deepa), thus its name: Deepawali. This word, in due course, became Diwali in Hindi. But, in South Indian languages, the word did not undergo any change, and hence the festival is called Deepawali in southern India. There are many different observances of the holiday across India.
Jainism marks Diwali as the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which occurred on October 15, 527 BC.
Among the Sikhs, Diwali came to have special significance from the day the town of Amritsar was illuminated on the return to it of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) who had been held captive in the Fort at Gwalior under the orders of the Mughal emperor, Jahangir (1570-1627). As the sixth Guru (teacher) of Sikhism, Guru Hargobind Ji, was freed from imprisonment - along with 53 Hindu Kings (who were held as political prisoners) whom the Guru had arranged to be released as well. After his release he went to the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in the holy city of Amritsar, where he was welcomed in happiness by the people who lit candles and diyas to greet the Guru. Because of this, Sikhs often refer to Diwali also as Bandi Chhorh Divas - “the day of release of detainees."
The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal, particularly the Newar Buddhists.
In India, Diwali is now considered to be a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith

Uploaded by wanderlust1979 on 27 Oct 08, 8.03AM PDT.

Colored powder used for decoration during Diwali or Deepawali

An assortment of colored powder is sold in Katmandu, Nepal. The powder is used for decoration during the Tihar (also called Diwali or Deepawali) festival, the second most important Hindu festival in Nepal after Dasain. The five days of festival activities, originally uploaded by photongo.

An assortment of colored powder is sold in Katmandu, Nepal. The powder is used for decoration during the Tihar (also called Diwali or Deepawali) festival, the second most important Hindu festival in Nepal after Dasain. The five days of festival activities honors certain animals on successive days.