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The FNB Diwali Festival in Newtown was a resounding success, if the
audience is anything to go by. A great time was had by all.
COLOURFUL saris, the vibrant sound of
traditional music and the rich scent of spicy Indian food filled Newtown's Mary Fitzgerald Square
on Saturday, 3 October - and it was all to celebrate the Hindu festival of
lights.
A festive atmosphere in downtown Joburg
The
FNB Gauteng Diwali Festival was organised by the Gauteng
region of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha and the Tamil Federation of
Gauteng with the backing of the City of Johannesburg
and First National Bank (FNB).
From mid-morning till late the square pulsed
with a varied cultural and entertainment programme that brought a festive atmosphere to downtown Joburg. The stage was filled with royal purples, bright oranges,
maroons, golds and reds as a variety of Indian dance groups performed
contemporary and traditional dances, ranging from Bharata Natyam to Kollatum.
Among the music and dance groups that took
part in this year were the Benoni Tamil School Board, Bollywood Superstars, Irene Dance Academy, Spicy Bollywood and Kashvita Music and Dance Academy.
The square was chock-full, with the
audience cheering on the performers, and themselves dancing to the music. One
over-enthusiastic man kept yelling, "I love you" to the performers, much to the
amusement of the crowd.
Passers-by doing their Saturday chores could
not resist the music and also stopped at the square to watch the performances.
A particularly exciting programme was a series of choreographed soccer moves performed
by Tribhangi Dance Theatre - the spectacular performance will be presented at
the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Stilt walkers, jugglers and balloon sculptors
stole the hearts of children with their funny antics, while over at the stalls,
enthusiastic shoppers wandered around the colourful market looking for
interesting wares to buy.
Celebration
The
festival's programme director, Jayesperi Moopen, said the event helped to promote
the spirit of togetherness. "Diwali is a time to start afresh and enjoy," she explained.
"It is celebrated all over the world and it is great to see many groups come
and perform in celebration."
A lot of fun is had by all
Sinthal
Ramiah, the chairman of the Gauteng Hindu Maha Sabha, said Diwali, also called
the festival of lights, was one of the most important Hindu holidays.
"Diwali
signifies the celebration of a religious new year in the Indian community ... It's
a day of good luck ... You want to forget your past and have a new beginning in
every relationship and everything you do," Ramiah said.
A
national holiday in India,
Diwali is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil. Traditional
celebrations include lamps, which illuminating houses throughout India, and fireworks.
Vish Ganesh, one of the visitors, was
pleased with the organisation of the event.
"It was a lot of fun and really well
organised," Ganesh said, relishing the powerful aromas of chilli powder and
masala that engulfed Mary
Fitzgerald Square. "It was nice to see so many
people, especially non-Indians, participating."
Diwali
The Hindu festival of lights is one of the most popular festivals in India.
Since Indians make up one of the largest migrant groups in the world, the
festival has gained a foothold in countries across the globe, such as New Zealand, Netherlands,
Canada and Australia.
It celebrates the victory of good over evil
and light over dark. The day also commemorates the homecoming of the legendary King
Rama to the ancient city of Ayodhya
after a 14-year exile in the jungle.
On his arrival, the people of Ayodhya lit
his way with rows of lamps called deepawali, or simply diwali, giving the day
its name.
Diwali is celebrated in October or November
and marks the beginning of the year in some Hindu calendars. There are seven
major religions in India
and while Diwali is essentially a Hindu festival, it is celebrated by most people
across the country's 23 states.
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