Diwali: the Hindu Celebration of Lights

Diwali: the Hindu Celebration of Lights

By Jahnavi, 9

Condit Elementary

Claremont

Every year around November, my family and I go to our grandparents' house for Diwali, the Hindu celebration of lights. Diwali is such an important holiday that some of our aunts and uncles came all the way from India!

My sister, my mother and I dress up in our red, gold and light blue \o7saris\f7, which are long dresses with cloth at the shoulder. My two brothers and my father wear white pants and tops called \o7dhoti\f7. We all like to dress up.

First we have to go on the front door step and draw \o7rangoli\f7, a form of art that is done with colored chalk dust. There is a legend that when you draw flowers, the god Lakshami of fortune will visit your home and give good fortune to you.

Then everyone sits down and starts eating. All of us are on our best manners.

Finally, we all pile into the living room. Grandmother lights a candle and passes it around to everyone, putting rice in the men's and boy's hair, and \o7kunkun\f7, an inky powder, on the women's and girls' foreheads. She picks the order of the gift giving. From Momma, Daddy, Grandmother, Grandfather and Nita Moushi (our auntie), we get toys or books. From our other relatives it is usually money. We then rush off to play or read.

As I go to sleep on the night of Diwali, I am sad that our day is over but happy that tomorrow will be fun playing with our new things.

\o7This year, Diwali was Nov. 1-6. \f7

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