What is Diwali?

Diwali is celebrated globally and is a Hindu celebration that signifies the triump of light over darkness or good over evil. Diwali consists of a five day celebration which involves worship, adorning homes with lamps,and candles, indulging in festive meals, exchanging gifts and participating in various festivities. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

The museum collaborated with Moody Elementary to inspire exploration of multiculturalism among their fourth and fifth grade students. Students were taught about Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights and were tasked with sharing their newfound knowledge through written assignments. Scarlett’s submission was chosen and she was chosen to represent Moody Elementary in a special event held by the museum on November 12.

In celebration of Diwali’s commencement, community members were welcomed to the museum, to take part in the lighting of the museum grounds.

Guest speakers, Port Moody Mayor Megan Lahti and Port Moody Heritage Society’s President Munu Hicken-Gaberria said a few words and Moody Elementary student Scarlett Dee talked about what Diwali meant to her and then did us the honours of turning on the lights.

Diwali is a holiday celebrated by many people including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. Diwali is celebrated with gifts, food, music, lighting dia’s (or dipa’s) and spending time with family sort of like Christmas but also very different. Diwali is celebrated to honor legends and to scare away darkness. There is lots more to this holiday but that is all I am going to say for now. Shubi Diwali!

Anna

What is Diwali? Good question. Diwali is a festival where Buddhists, Jains, Hindus and Sikhs celebrate light over darkness, good over evil and new beginnings. They buy new clothes and traditional sweets. Its kind of like Christmas because you get together with family and friends you give gifts to each other when you visit other people’s houses. I almost forgot its celebrated in the lunar month. Its 5 days long.

This reminds me of Christmas because you get gifts and eat a lot of food.

Kate

Diwali is a celebration of light and good over evil. Before Diwali, people clean their homes and decorate with clay lamps and more like rangolis which is a picture that they make out of rice-colored powder and flower petals. This holiday is celebrated by Hindus., Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists and they all celebrate Diwali, or the festival of lights, a little bit differently. In Diwali there are 5 days: on the first day they clean their homes and buy jewelry, on the second day they decorate with clay lamps and rangolis, on day three they see their families, say prayers and see lots of fireworks, da four is about the beginning of the new ear and exchanging gifts and wearing new clothes and on the final day. Brothers visit married sisters, and they eat a meal together. This year Diwali is celebrated on Sunday, November 12 because Diwali is usually celebrated in November or October. The Hindu month is called Kartika. Diwali has lots of lights and fireworks, decorations and friends and family. During Diwali there are also lots of gifts and new clothes. There are also lots of different stories and ways to celebrate Diwali. It connects to everything because we all celebrate things differently and so many people put up lights during Christmas and they set off fireworks during New Year’s Eve. I think by doing what people like to do in different cultures, it makes them feel good about what they celebrate, so it doesn’t have to be what other people believe in. It's what THEY believe in and what they like to do. Thank you.

Scarlett

There are four groups of people who celebrate Diwali. Buddhists, Jains, Hindus and Sikhs.

Diwali is celebrated worldwide but mainly in India. On Diwali you go to church.

Diwali is a five-day celebration based on the lunar that begins in late Ashwin (September/October) and ends in early Kartika (October/November).

Diwali has many stories, but all have the same meanings. Light over dark, good over evil and new beginnings.

Diwali is celebrated by: Diyas, fireworks, new clothes, rangolis, lights, clean house, haircuts, share food and get together with family.

Henrik

Diwali is the day of light, good over evil, light over dark. People all over the world celebrate Diwali. They put Dipa’s all over their houses, and put alpana’s on their living room floors. They also have fireworks in the sky. Dipa’s are clay pots with mustered oil and a wick. They light them upo and it fills their house with light. Alpanas are colourful good luck designs that they out on their living room floors. They look like beautiful crafted carpets. They make them out of rice powder. They usually put them in the design of birds, flowers, or intricate patterns. Fioreworks lights up the sky on Diwali. It is the festival of light after all.

Harper

Diwali is a holiday called the festival of lights. The people who celebrate Diwali are Buddhists, Jains, Hindus and Sikhs. Diwali is mostly celebrated in India and also around the world. This holiday always falls in the seasons of fall. During Diwali people go to their friends’ house to have a yummy feast and celebrate Diwali. During Diwali people buy new clothes that are beautiful. People that celebrate Diwali use colored rice to make rangoli. People also put lanterns in front of their house. When its Diwali you will see fireworks pop out in the sky. People clean their house so the Goddess of Lakshmi will come to their house.

Leon

Diwali is a very big celebration. Mainly celebrated by the Hindu religion. And during Diwali people set off fireworks, light firecrackers, and ear traditional foods! Diwali lasts for 5 days in total. On the first day you make sure that your house is nice and clean so that Lakshmi the goddess of wealth and money can feel welcomed. And you buy shiny gold jewelry. Day two, you can decorate your house with clay lamps and rangoli art. On day three you gather with your family and say special prayers called pujas and watch fireworks. On the fourth day, families exchange gifts and wear new clothes. And on the fifth day brothers visit their married sisters and eat a special mean together. Diwali has special traditions, but the question is what did Diwali come from? Well… long ago a kind in northern India had three wives. He also had four sons: Rama, Lakshman, Bhaarat and Shatrughan. Rama was brave and good with a bow and arrow. The people of the kingdom loved him, and he always did good deeds. He was a good son and brother. When he grew up, he married Sita and became a good husband. The king wanted to make Rama the king but one of the king’s wives objected. She wanted to make her son Bharat to be the next king. And she told the king to send Rama away or exile him. Earlier, the king had made a promise to give that wife two wishes even though he was heart sick, he had to honor his word. He exiled Rama for fourteen years. Rama obeyed his father. He left with Sita and his brother Lakshman. They wandered off into the thick jungles for fourteen years and lived off berries, nuts and small animals that Rama and Lakshman hunted. Often, they fought wild animals, evil spirits, or demons, but Rama always won. When they reached the southern tip of India the ten headed demo king Lanka decided to steal Sita away. And he flew away to his palace. Rama was heartbroken. He and Lakshman searched everywhere for Sita. Then Hanuman a god in the shape of a monkey agreed to help them! This monkey could fly like a bird! Hanuman flew across the ocean and found Sita sitting in the demon kings garden he dropped his ring on her lap and told her: help is on the way! All the animals of the jungle came to help Rama and Lakshman build a bridge across the ocean to Lanka. Then Rama went across, killed the demon king and rescued Sita! The fourteen years of exile were over, and Rama returned home. The night Rama returned was on a new moon. The joyous people lit lamps to guide him home and that is one of the reasons Indian people celebrate Diwali!

Madison

Diwali or the festival of lights is a celebration celebrated by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. Diwali happens in the lunar month of Ashvin. Diwali is celebrated by lighting clay lamps called Diyas, making designs on the ground with colors rice and powder called rangolis, fireworks, inviting friends/family over, and delicious foods. Similar to other celebrations Diwali includes exchanging gifts. Diwali is celebrated to celebrate light over dark, good over evil and new beginnings. Diwali is a wonderful celebration that is celebrated all over the world. I have one more thing to say. “Happy Diwali!”

Heidance

Many people around the world celebrate Diwali like Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and just regular people who live in India and around the world. Here are some of the ways people celebrate it. Lighting oil burning candles called diyas, eat delicious food, make colorful designs (rangoli) and light lots of fireworks! Diwali falls during October or November on our calendar. India and neighboring countries use the lunar calendar which tracks the cycles if the moon. Diwali falls on the month of Ashwin. In conclusion, Diwali is a great festival of lights, food, and fresh starts. Hope you enjoyed learning.

Lizzy

Diwali, lots of people celebrate Diwali. Diwali is also known as devalie (de-valie) and it is also known as the festival of lights where there are a bunch of lights and fireworks! This holiday is celebrated because they are celebrating light over darkness and also to start a new beginning. To celebrate the holiday people light candles called diyas. They also make rangolis. They invite friends/family. They also like to make delicious foods. They watch the fireworks! This holiday is celebrated all over the world. Lots of people celebrate this holiday. Mostly these people are Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and also other countries and special buildings and also regular buildings. All celebrate sometimes they don’t, but they could at home. Also, you can make diyas too. And you might be able to see the firework! And light and diyas!

Rowan