This spectacular Hindu festival during which clay oil lamps are lit to symbolize the lifting of spiritual darkness and is a celebration of good over evil and light over darkness, is a favourite among locals that transcends religion, heritage and ethnicity.
Religious festivals
This spectacular Hindu festival during which clay oil lamps are lit to symbolize the lifting of spiritual darkness and is a celebration of good over evil and light over darkness, is a favourite among locals that transcends religion, heritage and ethnicity.
Religious festivals, customs and traditions form an integral part of Trinidad and Tobago’s society and the Hindu festival, Divali is no exception. This stems from a large portion of the country’s population being East Indians and a significant amount are Hindus. Divali was brought to Trinidad and Tobago by Hindus who came as indentured labourers in 1845. The celebration of Divali in Trinidad and Tobago is marked as a national holiday with numerous functions held to celebrate the occasion.
The celebration of Divali in Trinidad is one of the largest in the English speaking Caribbean. Celebrations are not only held at temples and by religious groups, it has been extended to homes and communities but now organizations have also embraced this festival with special events held to commemorate this occasion.
Divali, is celebrated by Hindus around the world, is called the Festival of Lights which symbolizes the lifting of spiritual darkness. It is a celebration of good over evil and light over darkness. Divali means an array of lamps (deep: lamp; vali: array).
In the early days, the Hindus celebrat