[Photo courtesy TriniView.com]
In Trinidad and Tobago we start thinking of Christmas at the end of Ramadan (the Muslim holy month). After Ramadan Divali (the Hindu festival of light), which occurs early in October, marks the official commencement of Christmas celebrations. As I write I can hear the endless bursting of bamboo outside from children, which is traditionally done in the lead up to Divali. In a few days people, mostly Hindu's will start to place the popular icicle lights up and around their houses. I am not sure what is the significance of the bursting of bamboo or the icicles to the worship of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi but it's something I've always grown up with. On Divali itself Hindus will light deya's all around their homes and the streets. It's a beautiful sight. Divali represents the victory of light over darkness.
Look at youtube images of persons bursting bamboo in Trinidad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSlTfB3pVAM&feature=related
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