Priya Litt
Special to the Lake Report
The Sparks learn about and celebrate Diwali!
Diwali is most commonly known as “The Festival of Lights” and in India it is the most celebrated festival and biggest holiday.
This year I had the honour of being a special guest speaker and teaching the youngest members of the Girl Guides of Canada, the NOTL Sparks, all about Diwali.
This wonderful festival is widely celebrated by many people around the world and symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
We celebrate by lighting up many diyas and candles and it becomes the brightest night of all. Diyas are oil lamps that are traditionally lit up by using a cotton wick dipped in ghee or vegetable oils.
The Sparks used beautiful gems and decorated their very own diyas made from clay.
The girls also coloured rangoli designs, an art form of beautiful patterns. Traditionally we use flower petals and coloured sand, flour or rice to make rangoli designs at the entrance of our homes to bring good luck and welcome happiness.
Special guest helper Achal Litt came dressed in beautiful traditional Indian attire and showed the girls how she dresses up during Diwali.
The festival is all about giving, sharing, caring and spreading love, joy and happiness. The girls were filled with gratitude as Achal kindly gave out gift cards to each Spark so they could buy themselves some treats.
Everyone enjoyed learning about this wonderful cultural festival. Each girl was glowing in their brightly coloured glo necklace and bracelet, and the night ended with the Sparks lighting up their beautifully decorated diyas with tealights.
