The festival of Diwali has been celebrated for ages in our country but did you know it is also celebrated outside India. Yes! Guyana, Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal, Mauritius, Myanmar, Singapore, Srilanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Britain, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Africa, and Australia among the Hindus worldover. Places as far as Southern America have record of celebrating Diwali.

Everyone enjoys the sweets, the lights, the crackers and the enthusiasm to the festival. But there is much more to Diwali than feasting and merrymaking. Deepawali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Celebrated joyously all over the country, it is a festival of wealth and prosperity. The preparations for the occasion, the rituals, the entire celebration focuses on the home and family, and even extending out to the community. It is the celebration of togetherness.

This festival is celebrated on a grand scale in almost all the regions of India and is looked upon mainly as the beginning of New Year. As such the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, are invoked with prayers. We all know how Diwali is celebrated in our country. Let us travel to other countries and see what their traditions speak about this festival of lights.

Diwali celebrations in Mauritius:

Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean is has beautiful picturesque landscapes and enchanting spots. 63% of population of Mauritius is Indian with 80% of them following Hinduism. Hence, celebration of almost all the Hindu festivals in this island is a common phenomenon. As such, Diwali celebration is also an age-old tradition. It holds special significance for the natives. They believe that Diwali was celebrated even long before the return of Lord Rama from 14 years of exile and his coronation as the king. Lightening of earthen lamps in rows and worshiping Goddess Lakshmi marks the festival. People burn crackers to scare away evil spirits.

Diwali celebrations in Nepal:

Nepal is a Hindu country nestled in the foothills of Himalayas. Though a multiethnic and multi-lingual society, it is the only Hindu Kingdom of the world and therefore Diwali here is celebrated with the usual Hindu festivities and rituals. In Nepal Diwali is known as Tihar. Just like most places in India Diwali is celebrated here to honor the Goddess of wealth and God of prosperity Lakshmi and Ganesh respectively.

The festival here is a five days long celebration, with each day having a special significance and pooja. The first day is dedicated to cows. Rice is cooked for the cows, believing that Goddess Lakshmi comes on cows. The second day is for Dogs as the Vahana of Bhairava. Preparation of delicious food especially meant for the dog is a typical characteristic of the day. On the third day lights and lamps are lit to illuminate the entire night. Fireworks, Lamps and crackers are widely used as in India. The fourth day is dedicated to Yama, the Hindu God of Death. He is prayed for long life. The fifth final day is Bhhaya Dooj a day for brothers and sisters. On this day sisters wish their brothers long life and prosperity.

Diwali celebrations in Malaysia:

Malaysia is a fascinating country with a multiethnic population of about 20 million. It promises a colorful potpourri of culture and traditions. The Hindu community of Malaysia constitutes about 8% of its total population and Diwali is the major festival for this community. It is a symbol of triumph of good over evil. The Malaysian people call Diwali as Hari Diwali. This festival is celebrated during the 7th month of the Hindu solar calendar. The south Indian traditional of oil bath precedes the festivities. The celebration includes visits to temples and prayers at temples within the house. Small lamps made from clay and filled with coconut oil burnt signifying the victory of Lord Rama.

Diwali celebrations in Indonesia :

The name Indonesia came from two Greek words: "Indos" meaning Indian and "Nesos" meaning islands. The majority of population follows Islam while Hindus constitute only 2% of the total population. Still, the Indonesian island of Bali is famous for celebrating the festival of Diwali. Majority of people living here are Indians. The celebration and rituals of the festival is mostly similar to that celebrated by their counterparts in India.

Celebrating Diwali in Myanmar:

Sharing the eastern boarder of India, Myanmar has a good number of Hindu populations. Diwali here is celebrated as per the Hindu solar calendar. Pooja and rituals are same as in India. A good number of lights or traditional lamps are lit to illuminate the home and the streets. Delicious foods are cooked and new garments are worn. Traditional dancing and music follow to mark the occasion.

Celebrating Diwali in Singapore:

Diwali celebration holds a significant place in the calendar of festivals of Singapore and is referred to as Deepavali. This may be because of the fact that most of the Indian population residing here comes from Tamil Nadu. 'Deepam' and 'vali' are Tamil words meaning 'Deepam' 'light' respectively. The celebration process of the festival is also a lot similar to that of southern India. Marking the importance of the festival day, most of the offices and commercial institutions / organizations remain closed on this day.

Celebrating Diwali in Sri-Lanka:

Sri Lanka is on the extreme southeastern point of India. Related to the epic of Ramayana, Diwali holds a special importance for the people here. The festival is marked by lighting lamps and making of toys of enamel. Figures made out of crystal sugar popularly known as Misiri are an important part of the festivities. These sugar crystals take the place of sweets. Burning of crackers in the evening of the festival is a common practice of this festival.

Celebrating Diwali in Japan:

Japan, the land of the rising sun also celebrates Diwali (Deepawali) as the day of happiness, progress, prosperity and longevity in life. The festival here is celebrated in a unique way that is not common in India. On this day people go out into the orchards and gardens and hang lanterns and paper made hanging structures on the branches of trees. Dance and music continues throughout the night. Cleaning the house, putting on new clothes and going for boating are a part of the whole celebration. The places of worship are decorated with beautiful wallpapers to bring in the festive mood and the auspicious beliefs related to the festival.

Celebrating Diwali in Thailand:

Diwali is celebrated in Thailand under the name of Lam Kriyongh during the months of October-November. The festival has almost similar ways of celebration as that of Diwali. Diyas (lamps) are made of banana leaves and candles are placed on it along with a coin and incense. These are set afloat on a river giving a wonderful view together on the water. The festival is not an extravagant affair as in India. People greet each other and wish them happiness for life. Distribution of sweets is a common practice on this day.

Diwali celebrations in South Africa :

South Africa, located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa has a mix of variety of cultures. It had the largest immigrant Indian community which is almost one million. Most of the Indians are concentrated in the eastern regions of Natal and Transvaal of the country. About 65% are Hindus, 15% Muslims and 20% of Christians live in this area. Due to the majority of the Hindu population, a number of Hindu festivals are celebrated here, with Diwali being the most important festival. The celebration is more or less same to that of India. Most of the Hindus here are from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu and follow their regional variations of Hinduism in their celebrations

Celebrating Diwali in Kenya and Tanzania:

Indians form about 19% of the population of Kenya and Tanzania but are well placed and command considerable economic influence. They also celebrate the major Hindu festivals as per Hindu solar calendar. As there has been very little interaction with the locals and influences have been very little, the festivities have retained their original Indian customs and rituals. The significance, customs and belief related to the festival of light, therefore is almost same like that of India. Illumination, worshipping of God and Goddess of wealth and prosperity are some of the common practice.
Diwali is a declared national holiday in Kenya.

Diwali celebrations in Britain :

The Indians are the second largest ethnic minority in Britain and all there festivals are celebrated as in India. The occasion of Diwali is marked by visit to the local temple to worship the shrine to Lakshmi, which they have made for Diwali. Eating special sweets, burning of incense sticks, lighting lamps in the house and surroundings and the blowing of the conch shell follows the prayer session in the Lakshmi temple. The festival though falls in one of the cold, damp and windy months in Britain, but still the enthusiasm of the festival celebration is not dampened. The lamps and Diyas play their part in maintaining the atmosphere of Diwali in the home.

Celebrating Diwali in Australia:

Australia the wonderful island country on Indian Ocean has an estimated 1,00,000 Indians settled in Australia. As most of them are the follower of the Hindu religion, Diwali is one of the festivals that is celebrated with full enthusiasm. The lightening of lamps and diyas is a common practice. However, the non-availability of the appropriate material and some other reason have influenced and given in the touch of modernity in the celebration of the festival of light.

Diwali celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago :

Trinidad is the most southern of the Caribbean islands, lying only seven miles off the Venezuelan coast, is one of the most exciting, colorful islands of the West Indies. Trinidad and Tobago has a good number of Indian populations and therefore Hindu festivals, customs, traditions and observances forms an integral part of the society. The Diwali celebration has a unique flavor here in the Caribbean island nation. It is usually marked as an occasion to unify the nation that consists of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Indo-Trinidadians and Afro-Trinidadians. The festival day is regarded as a national holiday and is marked several functions besides the usual rituals of the festivity. The functions and celebrations also have an official imprint as the Ministers of the Government also participate in the celebrations sometimes. The belief behind the festival is same as of India, which is, prevalence of good over evil. The celebrations continue for over a week and the headquarters of the National Council of Indian Culture at Diwali Nagar becomes the focal point.

Diwali celebrations in Guyana :

Guyana, formerly known as British Guiana, is located on the northeast coast of South America with 33% of Guyana's population being Hindus. The Co-operative Republic of Guyana in Southern America celebrates Diwali according to the Hindu Solar calendar and the day is declared as a national holiday. The tradition of celebrating the festival is believed to have been brought to Guyana in the year 1853 by the first indentured people from India. The legends related to the festival are similar to that of India and so are the customs. Distribution of sweets, illuminating the inside and out side of the house, exchange of greetings, cleaning of houses and wearing of new clothes is the highlight. The sweets distributed mainly consist of mithai, pera, barfi, and kheer. For people of Guyana wearing new cloth is the symbol of healthy souls in healthy bodies. Cleaning of their homes and keeping them well illuminated in and outside is a practice meant to illuminate the road for Goddess Lakshmi so that while goddess Lakshmi visits their home she faces no problem of light as the Diwali night is regarded as the darkest night of the year.