Indian culture
The Festival of Lights
The menu at this week’s Valley Café features Indian cuisine in celebration of the Hindu festival of Diwali, also known as the festival of lights.
The origins of Diwali can be traced back to India but there are many different legends about its origin. Today it is a national holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, Fiji and most of Southeast Asia. Each of the four days of Diwali (Naraka Chaturdasi, Amavasya, Kartika Shudda Padyami and Yama Dvitiya) tells its own legend of Hindu gods and demons and the triumph of good over evil. The celebration includes the sharing of food and sweets, new clothes, colored sand designs and lots and lots of lights. Fireworks and firecrackers are lit to drive away evil spirits and to express joy to the gods. Small clay lights filled with oil are kept all around the home and provide a peaceful glow day and night. The term “Diwali” actually translates into “row of lamps”.
Diwali is about awareness of the inner light that exists within us all. It is pure and infinite and from our inner light stems reason, hope and compassion. Each one of us celebrates the birth of our physical being. In addition, Diwali celebrates the glow of this inner light.
Join in the festival of lights at the Valley Café on Tuesday, November 26th from 11:30-1:30 with a Diwali inspired menu.
See you then!
(Picture courtesy of CNN)
The Valley Café 