In Which Countries is Diwali Celebrated?

In Which Countries is Diwali Celebrated?

Celebrated every year during autumn in north hemisphere is the festival of lights, popularly known as ‘Diwali.’ There is an official holiday in many countries on this auspicious day, like India, Malaysia, Nepal, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Suriname and Guyana. Diwali is one of the main festivals of Hindus where they celebrate the victory of good over evil or light over darkness. The few countries that celebrate Diwali other than India are as follows.

 

Fiji

 

The Hindu population in Fiji makes up the 1/3rd of the whole population. The festival of Diwali is observed as a public holiday as well a religious event of the Hindus. This time is celebrated as the beginning of the holiday season in Fiji and is hence, celebrated with firecrackers by Indo-Fijians of any religion. The houses are decorated with candles, oil lamps. The people also use rice and chalk. The festival is often complimented with sweets and vegetable dishes.

 

Mauritius

 

Mauritius observes Diwali as a public holiday. The offices, houses, supermarkets and other buildings are decorated with lights a week before the festival. Sweets are prepared by families at home which are distributed among family and friends. The people also offer prayers to Lord Rama, Goddess Laxmi and various other Gods.

 

Sri Lanka

 

Celebrated by the Tamil community, Diwali is a public holiday here as well. The people celebrate this festival by bathing in oil in the morning, performing Puja (prayer) and visiting Koil which is a Hindu Temple. The people in Sri Lanka celebrate Diwali in a very traditional manner with games, fireworks, dancing, singing, etc. there are family reunions and large meals eaten together.

 

Singapore

 

Singapore as a whole does not observe Diwali as a holiday. It is celebrated only by the Indian population of the country in the Little India district. The area is lit with markets, parades, concerts, exhibitions and many more events. The whole of Little India is covered in lights. Therefore, Diwali is a gazette public holiday.

 

Australia

 

Celebrated mainly by the Indian population and locals of Australia in Melbourne and Brisbane, Diwali at Chinatown and Federation Square has embraced the Victorian population in it. There are more than 56,000 people who visit Federation Square on this day. There are many dance performances and huge banners put up all across the Melbourne Airport. Even the Sydney Opera House is lit up in gold every year on this day since 2004.

Rating