| Diwali
- The festival of Light |
| Diwali, the Hindu "festival of lights," is the best known of Hindu festivals and
certainly the brightest and charming. Amid the dark skies of autumn, lights illumine homes throughout India and its
Diaspora, while families celebrate with visits, gifts, and feasts.
The five day long festival starts in the 14th day of the dark half of the Hindu calendar month of
Aswina. (Every Hindu month is divided into a light half
generally fortnight long, when the moon waxes, and a dark half, when it wanes.) By the Gregorian calendar,
Diwali generally falls in October or November; in 2003, it begins on October 25. |
|
| Beautiful
Rangoli |
| Rangoli |
 |
A colourful design called a Rangoli is made near the entrance to a house to welcome guests. Traditionally they are painted or created out of coloured sand/rice powder. A symmetrical design or picture (Gods, Goddess, Dancers, Diwas etc.) is drawn and coloured rice powder/sand is then layered on top to form a picture.
A symmetrical design like the one opposite can be drawn on paper or card and then decorated by children with crumpled tissue paper. Also sand could be used, mixed with paint or coloured with food
colourings. (mix sand with water coloured with food colourant, pour off excess and leave to dry in a warm place). Chalk could also be used to draw a Rangoli directly on to paving stones in a secure outside area. |
| More
Rangoli designs |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
