Diwali in Fiji

 

Diwali in Fiji is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Large numbers of Hindus are residing in this country. They celebrate Diwali with all traditional and rituals. Fiji is known as a small India away from India. It is celebrated there with great pomp-and show. The enthusiasm is so large that even the no-Hindu population participates in celebration. Diwali is celebrated as public holiday in Fiji. On the occasion of Diwali, people clean their houses, make rangolis at their homes. People also give greeting cards to their friends and relatives. This strengthen their bonds of love of this festival give the people opportunity to come closer to each other  people belonging to a different faiths and communities come together and celebrate this festival with great joy. On Diwali evening people worship Goddess Lakshmi as people do in India. People distribute sweets etc. to their friends. They decorate their houses with light and candles as the people do in India. In fact Diwali is celebrated as festival of lights in Fiji. People give gifts to their friends. In these ways they try to keep alive the culture and traditions of Diwali celebration in Fiji. They are giving this rich culture their children in legacy. On the occasion of Diwali several functions and competions are arranged in schools. The competitions of essay writing, quiz and rangoli makings and Diwali greeting cards making are held to encorage this festival and culture in growing children who are the future of nation. This festival is verifying the nation in this way. Fiji is a multi social, multi ungula and multi cultural society but becomes a unit on Diwali.