Diwali - The Festival of Lights.
November marks the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights celebrated by millions of people around the world.
Diwali is described as a festival of new beginnings, celebrating the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Prior to the five day celebration, Hindus spend time cleaning, renovating and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps) and rangolis, artwork in the form of colourful circular patterns.
During the festival families dress in their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes, worship Lakshmi - goddess of prosperity, light fireworks and share feasts, often featuring traditional sweet snacks or Mithai.
There are many activities associated with Diwali, including dancing, playing traditional music and telling stories about the trials and triumphs of Hindu gods such as Rama, Sita, Vishnu and Krishna.
You can learn more about Diwali from this collection of resources compiled by Merton Heritage Service - these include information sites, film, music, recipes, puzzles and craft ideas. We hope you enjoy them and we wish everyone a very happy Diwali.
The Story of Diwali:
Click on the links below to learn more about the story of Diwali and traditions associated with the festival.
Diwali Food:
You can discover the taste of Diwali - click on the links below to find a range of popular recipes.
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Diwali Recipes (BBC Good Food)
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Diwali Music & Dance:
Follow the links below to view films featuring traditional Diwali music and celebratory dance.
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Shree Ganapathy Temple, Wimbledon: |
Happy Diwali (Attic Theatre & Merton Dementia Hub) Diwali Celebration, London 2021
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Diwali Puzzles:
Click on the links below to access word searches and quizzes on the theme of Diwali.
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Large Diwali Word Search (Answers)
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How Much Do You Know About Diwali? (CBeebies)
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Diwali Crafts:
Follow the links below to find a range of easy Diwali-themed activities to enjoy with family and friends.
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Making Rangoli Colours at Home
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Share your stories:
We are always keen to add material to the Merton heritage collection. If you have Diwali stories, reminiscences or photos of Merton Diwali celebrations that you would like to share, please contact us via email at: local.studies@merton.gov.uk
You can also write to: Merton Heritage Centre, Merton Civic Centre, London Rd. Morden. SM4 5DX
For more resources, including South Asian heritage, visit our History Pages & Activities section.