Tomorrow is Divali in Trinidad and Tobago, a public holiday. Divali (also known as Diwali or Deepavali) is the Hindu festival of lights, and one of my favourite religious celebrations.
Growing up, much of the students at my prep school, including myself,would assemble on the evening of the Divali celebrations to help our Hindu classmates to fill and light the deyas and to take part in the puja which featured performances by our friends 
To learn more about the meaning and history of this festival visit Divali on Wikipedia.
This year our menu will consist of the following. Recipes to follow!
• Chana Dal Soup (from The Ayurvedic Cookbook
)
• Potato Roti (Aloo Puree)
• Pumpkin and Cashew Curry
• Roasted Cumin Raita
• Spicy Eggplant and Green Bean Curry
• Trinidad Barfi
• Trinidad Parsad
Divali celebrations are held throughout Trinidad at both private and public locations, and participation is not restricted to Hindu followers. One of my favourite locations to take in the lights is Adam Smith Square in Woodbrook. The cross-section of families and individuals from all walks of life always brings a smile to my face and reminds me of the Divali celebrations of my childhood. Last year I live tweeted video and pics of the festivities so be sure to follow me on Twitter if you’d like more of that this year Until then, here is a snippet of video that I took there in 2008
For more information on Divali in Trinidad:* Divali Nagar on Facebook
* Divali Nagar website
* Divali Flickr Set
This post was first published October 2008, it has been updated twice since then.
Last month I was invited to participate in the blogging collective “Kwanzaa Culinarians“. Linking writers throughout the African diaspora it includes such heavyweights as Chef Bryant Terry, as well as known foodies like Sanura of “My Life Runs On Food“, ...
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DIVALI WIN!!!
DIVALI WIN!!!
Can U please share the recipe for the Curried Coconut Rice with Lentils and Cashews?
This sounds YUMMY!!!
Thanks!
-Ant
Virginia, USA
Can U please share the recipe for the Curried Coconut Rice with Lentils and Cashews?
This sounds YUMMY!!!
Thanks!
-Ant
Virginia, USA
Can U please share the recipe for the Curried Coconut Rice with Lentils and Cashews?
This sounds YUMMY!!!
Thanks!
-Ant
Virginia, USA
Happy Belated Divali! I love your blog – gwto
Happy Belated Divali! I love your blog – gwto
just discovered your blog, and i’m already hungry!
just discovered your blog, and i’m already hungry!
just discovered your blog, and i’m already hungry!
Yum! I could learn something here. I love food from the Caribbean. I’ll come visit. Thanks.
Yum! I could learn something here. I love food from the Caribbean. I’ll come visit. Thanks.
I love this site and I am a subscriber. keep up the great work! and yes, I love all the recipes. Being a Trikidadian myself, I enjoy cooking a variety of meals and sharing them with my friends, family and loves ones.
Camille Cares
Brooklyn, NY via Trinidad
I love this site and I am a subscriber. keep up the great work! and yes, I love all the recipes. Being a Trikidadian myself, I enjoy cooking a variety of meals and sharing them with my friends, family and loves ones.
Camille Cares
Brooklyn, NY via Trinidad
please could you tell me, from reading your description of the black cake you say you have a jar of soaked fruit 2 years old. i have a rumtopf jar assembled last summer, fresh soft summer fruits sugar and alcohol, gradually assembled over the soft fruit season as each fruit becomes available here in england. would it be a viable option to use these fruits in the cake recipe, if so would you recommend i also use dried fruits, and in what quantities would you suggest?? i find your website absolutely awesome, particularly interested in the sweet dishes and cakes.. thanks for this informative insight into a wonderful cuisine..
please could you tell me, from reading your description of the black cake you say you have a jar of soaked fruit 2 years old. i have a rumtopf jar assembled last summer, fresh soft summer fruits sugar and alcohol, gradually assembled over the soft fruit season as each fruit becomes available here in england. would it be a viable option to use these fruits in the cake recipe, if so would you recommend i also use dried fruits, and in what quantities would you suggest?? i find your website absolutely awesome, particularly interested in the sweet dishes and cakes.. thanks for this informative insight into a wonderful cuisine..
please could you tell me, from reading your description of the black cake you say you have a jar of soaked fruit 2 years old. i have a rumtopf jar assembled last summer, fresh soft summer fruits sugar and alcohol, gradually assembled over the soft fruit season as each fruit becomes available here in england. would it be a viable option to use these fruits in the cake recipe, if so would you recommend i also use dried fruits, and in what quantities would you suggest?? i find your website absolutely awesome, particularly interested in the sweet dishes and cakes.. thanks for this informative insight into a wonderful cuisine..