Diwali Celebrations All Over the World

The festival of Diwali is celebrated by hundreds of people around the world aside from those residing in India. Be it U.S., U.K., or Canada, all these countries take part in Diwali celebration and enjoy it to the fullest.

Here’s how the festival of lights is observed in several countries with equal enthusiasm and excitement as it happens in India.

United States:

A few years ago, the U.S. Senate had passed a resolution which recognized the religious aspect and historical significance of Diwali. In 2009, President Obama lit a diya and celebrated Diwali in the White House. He also issued a video message where he conveyed his views on the importance of the festival and the significance of lighting diyas. The President also recited a translated version of the Sanskrit mantra “Asato Ma Sad Gamaya”. The Indians residing in the U.S. worship Lord Vishnu during Diwali. They also light up colorful earthen diyas as part of their festive celebrations.
United Kingdom:

In U.K., Diwali is celebrated amidst stormy and chilly weather in the month of October/November. Right from lighting diyas and candles to exchanging sweet and gifts like Kaju Katli, Kaju Barfi, Mewa Pista, and Laddoo, there’s everything to keep you busy just in case you’d like to explore Diwali Puja there. On this day, people offer their prayers to the almighty by visiting the Lakshmi Temple built especially for this Puja. This is where conch shells are blown while prayers are offered to Goddess Lakshmi.
Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Britain’s largest Hindu temple, the Swaminarayan Mandir. This temple is located in London. Thousands of explosions are created with the fireworks and laser display here. Aside from bursting fireworks, people indulge in donating blood, money, and food to the poor and needy.
In 2009, Prime Minister Gordon Brown lit a diya while a Vedic chanting was going on at his Downing Street office. This was the first time that Diwali celebrations were held by the Prime Minister’s office in U.K.

Canada:

Diwali is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and gaiety in Ontario, which is home to a large section of South Asian population. People perform Lakshmi Puja on this festive occasion with similar traditions and rituals followed by the Hindus. Thousands of devotees visit the Vishnu Mandir in Canada to seek the blessings of the almighty. Other than performing the puja, people participate in cultural programs and events like Miss Diwali Queen Contest.
Since 1998, the Canadian Parliament has been celebrating the “festival of lights” on Parliament Hill which is the seat of the House of Commons. After lighting traditional lamps, the dignitaries usually have a special dinner which includes Indian delicacies only.
Sri Lanka:

The festival of Diwali is of great importance to the Tamil community of Sri Lanka. They usually call it “Deepavali”. Some of the highlights of their celebration on this occasion include the lighting of diyas, exchange of gifts, and creating figures and designs of crystal sugar known as ‘Misiri’. The people also wear new clothes and burst fireworks in the evening of Diwali.
Malaysia:

Diwali is celebrated in Malaysia as ‘Hari Deepavali’. It is observed as a national holiday throughout the country. The people follow similar traditions and rituals on this festival as followed by the Hindus. They enjoy the festivities and commemorate this occasion as the victory of good over evil forces.
The South Indian tradition of taking an oil bath is followed by the people of Malaysia on ‘Hari Deepavali’.  People visit temples and offer their prayers on this occasion. They light diyas filled with coconut oil. An important part of the ‘Hari Dipavali’ celebrations is the ‘Rumah Terbuka’ or ‘open house’. The ‘open house’ means that the Malaysians keep their houses open for other people of their races to join them in the festivities and enjoy a delicious meal. This is a special act of friendship and social bonding which the Malaysians show on the festive occasion of Diwali.
Nepal:

The celebrations in Nepal are similar to the Diwali festivities observed by the Hindus in India. The people of Nepal call this festival as Swanti. They celebrate this occasion for 5 days. The first day, known as Kaag Tihar, is the occasion when people feed their cows in order to express their gratitude for the agricultural work done by these animals. The 2nd day is observed as Kukur Tihar when people offer food to dogs which they consider as the Vahana of Bhairava.
The 3rd day of Diwali celebrations include bursting of fireworks and lighting of lamps. On the next day, people worship Yama, the God of death. The final day celebration is known as ‘Bhai Tika’. This is when siblings meet and exchange gifts. Sisters put a tika around their brothers’ foreheads to wish that they succeed in their new ventures.
This is how Diwali is celebrated with great fun, enthusiasm, and happiness all around the world.