Diwali is a holiday that comes from India. It is celebrated by Hindus around the world. Sikhs and Jains celebrate it, too. As you will see in my book, different people celebrate it in different ways and for different reasons. But there are common themes for everyone: the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness. Diwali is called THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS.

The word Diwali is a shortening of Deepavali, which comes from the Sanskrit word dipa, meaning row, and vali, meaning lights. In South India the holiday is called by the original word, Deepavali.

Diwali/Deepavali is celebrated in autumn. This year, 2006, it is on October 21. Some people celebrate for more than one day.

When I first started writing this book I had never even heard of Diwali. So to write the book I read a lot, talked to a lot of people (professors, journalists, neighbors, friends, store owners and waiters). I was lucky enough to go to a Diwali party (I hope to go to more!) And I had a wonderful guide in my consultant. For each book I have a consultant who is an expert in the holiday. For CELEBRATE DIWALI my consultant was Dr. Vasudha Narayanan, who is brilliant, knowledgeable, distinguished and fun. And does she travel! I got e-mails from her when she was in Paris, India, Cambodia and her home in Florida. Visit her web sites to learn more about her:
http://web.religion.ufl.edu/faculty/narayanan.html and
and
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/vasu/

Here's a nice article from LittleIndia.com called Made in India, Remade in America, by Lavina Melwani, that talks about how Indian festivals, including Diwali, are being transformed in America.

A lovely review of Celebrate Diwali appeared in Indian Life & Style Magazine:
The entire collection of Holidays Around the World by National Geographic Society is amazing, however Celebrate Diwali is one of the best of the bunch. With rich, vivid photographs, bold use of color and creative and engaging text, Celebrate Diwali is an important book that engages young readers to explore this Indian festival of lights. The book cleverly weaves old generation knowledge with modern twists in celebration which delivers a book that is easily approachable for today's youth and supported by elders alike...This book leaves you wanted to learn more, to participate more and to celebrate more. This engaging and creative work of art is an amazing contribution to children's book in America. - Diana Rohini LaVigne, Indian Life & Style Magazine

Celebrate Diwali was named as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book by the National Social Studies Teacher/Children's Book Council.

TELL ME HOW YOU CELEBRATE DIWALI!
Would you like to share some of your Diwali or Deepavali traditions? Is there a special game you play? (In the book I have a version of Teen Pathi.) Do you decorate your house? Do you wear new clothes? Is there a special family tradition others might like to hear about? In my book I give a recipe for PEDA, a delicious Diwali sweet. But that is only one of many sweets made for Diwali. Do you have a recipe you'd like me to post on my web site? Please e-mail me and tell me about your traditions.

Hillol Ray of Garland, Texas, sent in this wonderful poem he's written for and about Diwali.

I asked people to write in and tell me how they celebrate Diwali or Deepavali. Here are memories of Deepavali from Laxmi, who now lives in Texas. Thank you, Laxmi!