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In Trinidad and Tobagocommunities all over the islands get together and celebrate the festival.
One major celebration that stands out is the Diwali Nagar or Village of the Festival of Lights
located in ChaguanasTrinidad. It features stage performances by the east Indian cultural
practitionersa folk theatre featuring skits and playsan exhibition on some aspect of
Hinduismdisplays by Hindu religious sects and social organisationsnightly worship of
Lakshmilighting of deeyasperformances by schools related to Indian cultureand a food court
with Indian and nonIndian vegetarian delicacies. Thousands of people participate in the island
wide festivities. Sports groundsschools and other public locations such as parkshost Diwali
Celebrations. Diwali celebrations begin with Lakshmi Pooja and continue with lighting deyas
and singingdancing and sharing meals. The festival culminates with fireworks displays
In FijiDiwali is a Public Holiday and is a religious event celebrated together by Hinduswho
constitute close to a third of Fiji's populationand culturally amongst members of Fiji's races and
is a time in the year that is greatly looked forward to. Originally celebrated by imported
indentured labourers from the Indian subcontinent during British rule in the then Colony of Fiji
during the th centuryit was set as a holiday at independence in as the government wished to
set aside one religious public holiday each for Fiji's three largest
religionsi.e.ChristianityHinduism and Islam.
Diwali in Fiji is often remarked by people from India as being observed on a larger scale then
Diwali celebrations in Indiaas fireworks and Diwali related events begin at least a week before
the actual day. Another unique feature is the cultural celebration of Diwaliaside from its
traditionally religious celebration where Fijians of Indian origin or IndoFijianswhether
HinduChristianSikh or even Muslim along with the other cultural groups in Fiji celebrate Diwali
as a time for sharing with friends and family as well as signalling the beginning of the Holiday
season in Fiji. On the commercial sideDiwali is a time for many retail sales and giveaways.
Diwali celebrations in Fiji have taken on a flair of its ownmarkedly different from celebrations
on the Subcontinent.
Diwali marks a time for cleaning and buying new and special clothes for the celebrations
amongst cultural groups along with dressing up in Saris and other Indian clothingto work the
day before. Homes are cleaned and Oil lamps or diyas are lit. Decorations are made around
the home with an array of coloured lightscandles and paper lanternsas well as the use of
religious symbols formed out of coloured rice and chalk. Invitations are made to familyfriends
and neighbours and houses are opened. Gifts are made and prayers or pooja are made by
Hindus. Sweets and vegetable dishes are often eaten during this time and fireworks are fired
for days before and after Diwali.
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