Tonight we celebrate Deepavali!
Deepavali is a five day festival celebrating the Hindu calendar new year. It is a National holiday in Singapore; businesses are still open, while schools and banks are closed. We had school today, but we are off tomorrow.
Deepavali (also known as Diwali), literally means "row or garland of lights". Locally, it has been called "The Festival of Lights". It is symbolic of the victory of good over evil: the victory of Lord Krishna, one of the deities of the Hindu pantheon, over the Demon King, Narakasura.
On Friday at our school, a dance troupe came and performed. And today, the students and staff were asked to wear celebratory dress. The students learned about Deepavali and painted clay lanterns with their homeroom classes.
During my classes we made large 2D paper collage lanterns. We combined metallic, translucent, and construction papers. And we looked at several festive images of Deepavali celebrations from all over the world.
Here is my 2nd grade class displaying their lanterns (some finished, some not-so-finished). And below, two of my 4th graders who came to visit during lunch. Everyone was so brightly colored and cheerful today!
For dinner, I met a friend in Little India. We ate at Indian Summer, where we happen to frequent so much that they sort of know our order when we walk in the door. I absolutely love their cheese dosa and samosa papri chat.
Outside of the restaurant, several shops up and down the street were displaying their lanterns ready to ring in the new year . . . Bring on the fireworks!!
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