As four out of every ten Trinidadians and Tobagonians are of Indian decent, it is little wonder that Diwali is integral to life in the Caribbean twin island state. The celebration is a national holiday, firmly rooted in the belief of the prevalance of good over evil.
Decorations vary from simple clay diyas (pictured) and green bamboo sculptures, to some of the same electric lights you'll see around Christmas.
Notable culinary highlights of the holiday are based on jackfruit or pommecythere (pom-see-tay) - a fruit similiar to mango, but more ripe around time for Diwali. Popular candy includes the sweetened fritter jalebi and the Indian mithai sweets.
Diwali specialties have remained popular with Trinidadians and Tobagonians living abroad. Go to "Little Guyana", the Indo-Caribbean part of Richmond Hill, Queens, and you will see the pretty rainbow sponge cake and West Indian ice cream currently flying off the shelf!
Posted by: Bernhard