Diwali: A Celebration of Light

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India‘s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians. Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that's also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well. For more information, click here.

This year we are introducing a family activity to remind us all about light and tradition. Get a Diwali Grab & Go Starter Kit from the Trove. Register on our online calendar or by phone (914-422-1476) and we will give you 2 clay dishes, 2 votives candles and decorations (while supplies last). Use your imagination and create your very own diyas, take photos and share them with us – click here to submit by October 25th. We will display them on the Library’s website on November 4-9, 2021.

(Kits will be available for pickup starting October 12th, while supplies last)

In the meantime, enjoy the titles below, especially selected so you, your family and friends share the magic that is DIWALI.

Diwali, o Dipawali, es la celebración mayor y más importante de todo el año en India. El festival lleva este nombre por la fila (avali) de lámparas de barro (deepa) que los Indios prenden fuera de sus hogares para simbolizar la luz interior que nos protege de la oscuridad espiritual. Este festival es tan importante para los hindúes como la Navidad es para los cristianos. A través de los siglos, Diwali se ha convertido en un festival nacional disfrutado también por las comunidades que no son Hindú. Por ejemplo, en el Jainism, Diwali marca el Nirvana, o despertar espiritual, del Lord Mahavira el 15 de Octubre de 527 A.C.; en el Sikhism, se celebra el día en el que Guru Hargobind Ji, el 6to Sikh Guru, fue liberado de la prisión. Los budistas en India también celebran Diwali. Para más información, visita: https://www.nationalgeographic.es/historia/2020/11/diwali-festival-de-luces-fiesta-mas-importante-de-la-india#

Este año introducimos una actividad familiar para recordarnos sobre la luz y la tradición. Consigue un Diwali Grab & Go Starter Kit del Trove. Inscríbete en nuestro calendario en línea o por teléfono (914-422-1476) y te daremos 2 discos de barro, 2 velas votivas y decoraciones (mientras se encuentren disponibles). Usa tu imaginación y crea tus propias diyas, tómales fotos y compártelas con nosotros. Haz clic aquí para someter tus fotos antes del 25 de octubre. Las mostraremos en la página web de la Biblioteca del 4-9 de noviembre de 2021.

(Los Starter Kits estarán disponibles a partir del 12 de octubre, en cantidad limitada.)

Mientras tanto, disfruta de estos títulos seleccionados especialmente para que tú, tu familia y amigos compartan de la magia que es DIWALI.

Titles/Titulos:

Lilu’s Bright Diwali, by Anita Nahta Amin.
OverDrive

The Diwali Gift, by Shweta Chopra.
Library Collection
OverDrive / Libby
Diwali, by Nancy Dickmann
Library Collection
Rama and Sita: The Story of Diwali, by Malachy Doyle.
OverDrive/Libby
Diwali, by Hannah Eliot.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
A Dog Named Haku, by Margarita Engle and Amish Karanjit.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
Origami for Diwali, by Robyn Hardyman.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
Celebrate Diwali, by Deborah Heiligman.
Library Collection
Amma, Tell Me About Diwali, by Bhakti Mathur.
Library Collection
Diwali, by Julie Murray.
OverDrive/Libby
Trinity and Friends Enjoy Diwali, by Priscilla Parameswaran.
Library Collection
Diwali, by Rebecca Pettiford.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
¡Es Diwali!, by Richard Sebra.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
It’s Diwali!, by Richard Sebra.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
Diwali: Festival of Lights, by Rina Singh.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
Diwali Lights, by Rina Singh.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby: Read Along / eBook
Shubh Diwali!, by Chitra Soundar.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
Binny’s Diwali, by Thrity Umrigar.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
Diwali, by Kate Torpie.
Library Collection
OverDrive/Libby
The Story of Divaali, by Jatinder Nath Verma.
Library Collection
Lighting a Lamp: a Diwali Story, by Jonny Zucker.
Library Collection
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *