DEEPAVALI

DEEPAVALI

Deepavali is a Hindu religious festival - festival of lights where the good overcomes evil. At one time non-Hindus thought it was Indian New Year which was false. To-day with much publicity people are better educated and aware that it is a religious festival as most Hindus celebrate and hence observed as a public holiday. It is difficult to declare new year as a public holiday for the Indian community, for like the Chinese New Year because among the Indians there are various groups , for example, the Tamils, the Telugus, the Malayalees, Punjabis and others who celebrate their own New Year.

It is food for thought as to whether it was the colonial planters in the estates that first declared Deepavali a common holiday to satisfy all groups to make them happy.

In the estate of 1960s, 1970s, celebrating Deepavali was a day of curries. Similarly in 1980s in the open houses of friends in the town one can savour the best curries and cappatis. In fact the curries in the estate and in personal open houses beat the best curries served in restaurants.

WISHING ALL HINDUS HAPPY DEEPAVALI

LET THIS LIGHT LEAD THE WAY TO HAPPINESS