Our Diwali celebration will take place on Wednesday, October 30, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the McIntyre Performing Arts Centre. This event promises dynamic performances and an opportunity to learn about the significance of the Festival of Lights, along with sampling traditional Diwali sweets! Follow us on instagram @mohawklcc for all the latest event news.
What is Diwali?
Diwali is one of the biggest festivals out of all Hindu festivals, celebrated all over the world. This festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness and marks the harvest season and the new year celebrations in the Indian sub-continent; however, different faith traditions have their own origin stories and significance
When is Diwali?
Diwali is observed on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, it means the exact date will usually fall from mid-October to mid-November.
What is the festival about?
Each religion marks different historical events and stories. Hindus celebrate the return of deities, Rama and Sita, to Ayodhya after their 14-year exile. They also celebrate the day Mother Goddess Durga destroyed a demon called Mahisha. Sikhs particularly celebrate the release from prison of the sixth guru Hargobind Singh in 1619, Jains honour a spiritual leader’s nirvana attainment, while some Buddhist population marks the commemoration of the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism
Where is the festival celebrated?
Although India has a huge majority of the population celebrating Diwali, it is also equally marked with importance in many other countries around the world including Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
