Oxhey World - India - Celebrations

During the year there are hundreds of festivals that Hindus celebrate. Some are celebrated by Hindus all over the world but others are only celebrated by small villages and towns.

Diwali Diwali is celebrated in October or November, lasts for 5 days and means “row of lights”. Each day has it's own special meaning.
Day 1	People clean their houses and put beautiful rangoli patterns on the ground using coloured powder. They get food ready and the oil lamps are lit.
Day 2	People take an oil bath in the morning and they light the lamps at night.
Day 3	This is the day where Hindus worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. It is hoped that she will bring them good luck and fortune.
Day 4	People celebrate the God Krishna on the fourth day. In some places this is called Annakoot which means mountain of food. This is because all the gifts of food that are given to the Gods looks like a huge mountain piled up in front of them.
Day 5	Brothers and sisters get together on the fifth day of Diwali for a big meal. All the brothers give a present to their sisters.

Diwali is a celebration of good beating evil based on the story of Rama and Sita where they return home safely after 12 years of being separated from their families and friends.

It is also a time for worshipping Lakshmi. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and good fortune.

Diwali is celebrated with parties. People eat special food, get dressed up, dance and have fireworks. Women also have mehndi patterns painted on their hands.

People light small lamps called Diva lamps which they put in their windows. This is supposed to attract the goddess Lakshmi and bring good luck. Fireworks are let off to scare away bad luck.

Hindus make rangoli patterns on their doorsteps made from brightly coloured powders to make Lakshmi happy.

New babies

Hindu babies are 10 days old before they are given their name. The first time a baby goes out is to their local mandir to meet the other Hindus. Hindus wash their baby and then write a special word Aum or Om on their tongue with a pen that has been dipped in honey.

When the Hindu child is 1 year old the baby’s head is completely shaved as a way of getting rid of any bad things the child might have done in a past life.

Weddings

Weddings are usually arranged with bride and groom agreeing to the wedding. It is seen as a way of joining the two families not only the couple. Hindu weddings are usually extremely large and lavish. The ceremony is conducted by a priest in the mandir and lasts for 3 hours.

The most important part of the wedding ceremony comes near the end when the groom, and then the bride take 7 steps round the sacred fire. With each step, they make a wish, for food, health, wealth, good fortune, children, happiness and friendship.

A groom on his way to his wedding.

The bride wears a red sari and a long scarf to cover her head. She also wears lots of jewellery, make up and patterns painted on hands and feet called mehndi patterns. The groom usually wears a long white jacket with a stand up collar over white trousers. He sometimes wears a special hat made to look like a crown decorated with feathers, sequins or jewels. After the party the bride leaves in new clothes bought for her by her husband’s parents and she moves in with them to help look after her new family.

These ornamental elephants are sold in India but sometimes real elephants are decorated and paraded through the streets for festivals.