Diwali (Traditions & Celebrations)

by Amin, Anita Nahta

Diwali is about celebrating! It honors the Hindu story of Rama. Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains also celebrate Diwali. To celebrate this Festival of Lights, people light lamps, watch fireworks, and dance. Others might exchange cards and presents. Readers will discover how a shared holiday can have multiple traditions and be celebrated in all sorts of ways.

Genres: Nonfiction, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2021

Reviews

[Cheryl A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to figure out the right words to fix the blurb. The book makes it clear that many religions have a holiday called Diwali, occurring at about the same time, celebrating the belief that "good always wins against evil." A billion people celebrate, not just Hindus but Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists.

The book makes it sound like a holiday that really would be effective at spreading good cheer & peace on earth, though, like Christmas, there are lots of sweets and boughten gifts included, too, which may work similarly to 'secularize' the holiday.

Bright photos with details, also index, glossary, and resources.
I enjoyed the quick read, and learned a lot.

Recommended especially to families with children ages 4-9 who don't already know about the holiday. Lighter than the other volume I've read in the set, Indigenous Peoples' Day, which I recommend more highly, more widely, and to both older children and to adults.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice pictures. Great book for children to give them an understanding of other cultures' celebrations. The only thing I would have added was an explanation of what kinds of foods they eat -- maybe even a simplified recipe or two.