Lighting a house of luck

MANY homes across the island will be cleaned, washed, decorated and sparkled with lights on Friday ... as part of the festive season of Diwali.

Expat Hindus, mostly from India, are celebrating an important festival that symbolises the victory of good over evil.

It is traditionally celebrated for five consecutive days and of these the most important is today, 'Dhanteras' and the third and main day where believers perform the Lakshmi puja - worshipping Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Diwali comes from the Sanskrit term Deepavali which is a series of deep (lamps) in a row and vali which means an array of lamps.

On a moonless night the lights are said to attract the good spirits into the homes. In recent days the community has been making preparations for Friday's festivities. Here is a list of festive essentials ... and where to get them in the kingdom.

Decorations

Firecrackers and fireworks are an integral part of the festival. Homes are decorated with light bulbs, wax candles or earthen lamps. Different legends and beliefs are associated with this custom which predominantly signifies scaring off the evil forces with a loud noise.

Small diyas or earthen lamps with cotton wicks and oil are placed all around the home to welcome the good and keep the evil away.

Mini-bulb lights are also used around doorways and on the walls as an alternative.

Another tradition is the rangoli or design patterns drawn in front of most homes. Rangoli is the expression of hospitality in the Indian culture and it means a 'row of colours'. Different designs, patterns, styles and subjects are chalked out using powdered rice and coloured powder.

Plain clay lamps, designer lamps, rangoli colours as well as stencils to draw designs can all be purchased in the Manama souq at stalls in front of the Krishna Temple.

Another option is to buy small clay lamps at the A'Ali Pottery in A'Ali where pottery makers prepare custom-made lamps at reasonable prices.

Fashion

In Bahrain, the best bargains for Indian attire can be made at Lulu and the Manama souq. Rows of street side shops sell Indian sarees, salwar khameez dress materials, ready-made suit pieces, lehengas, ghaghra cholis and much more.

Ladies dress up in the most pronounced and bright clothes which range from the five-yard long sarees to traditional three-piece lehengas or ghaghra cholis.

Men normally wear a kurta - a long, knee-length shirt with long sleeves over trousers.

Options in footwear are plenty from beaded sandals to plain leather flip-flops.

Accessories that women choose to complete their outfits include earrings, bangles, necklaces, chains, nose rings, bindis - a small body decoration made by women on their foreheads.

Where to find them: A variety of designer award-winning ranges Sarees are available at Lulu Hypermarket in the Dana Mall in Sanabis and various stores within the Manama Souq, Hoora and Gudaibya.

Authentic cotton wear is available at the Fab India store in the Al Jazira supermarket complex in Juffair. For shoes and other accessories the souq is a great option but most items are available in the above mentioned shops as well.

Gifts

An undeniable custom during Diwali is exchanging gifts and shopping. Prominent gift ideas are gold, Lakshmi Ganesha coins (Hindu God and Goddess), idols, artifacts, wrist watches, sweets, dry fruits, chocolates and clothes.

The festive day is also an auspicious time to buy gold for the family as well as to give as gifts.

The Gold Souq in Manama is a popular destination. If you wish to explore deeper within the Souq, there are a number of shops that have been selling gold on the island for many years such as Devji Jewelers, established in 1950. The more recent Indian jewellery shops like Joy alukkas, Atlas J and Damas are based in Gold City, Manama.

A significant tradition during Diwali is preparing, buying and distributing sweets amongst family and friends.

In the olden days, sweets were prepared at home and given to friends in the evening while visiting their homes.

In Bahrain, there are various Indian sweet shops across the island that sells fresh, aromatic and authentic Indian sweets.

Apart from the Manama souq, several sweet stalls provide Diwali sweets - amongst them are Sangeetha near the Awal Cinema, Rangoli and Asha's near American Mission Hospital.

Other customs

The Lakshmi Puja or the offerings made to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity is conducted in the evening of the main day of Diwali.

After cleaning the house, drawing the rangoli, preparing or buying the sweets, and dressing up in new clothes and gold, the household gets together to perform the rituals.

Once the puja is over, family members start lighting up the home by decorating it with lamps.

Another unusual, yet very popular, tradition of Diwali is playing cards. In some parts of India, there is a saying that if one doesn't play cards on Diwali, he or she will be reborn as a donkey!

SWEET TREAT

THE_Indian community in Bahrain is busy conjuring up a variety of authentic sweet delicacies for the Diwali celebrations.

Asha's Sweet and Namkeen in Manama is preparing a dessert feast for customers and shares this special recipe with Gulfweekly readers.

Milaab Halwa:

Milaab means "to bring together"... making a sweet concoction from grated carrots and bottle gourd.

Ingredients

Carrots 500gm

Bottle gourd 500gm

Sugar 500gm

Milk 1 litre

Cardamom

Rose essence

Khweda essence

Procedure:

Grate the carrots and bottle gourd separately. In separate vessels add to the grated carrot, half a litre of milk and stir it until the milk paste thickens.

Repeat this with the bitter gourd in a separate vessel and stir until thick.

In another vessel, mix both the pastes and add the sugar and continue stirring.

Add cardamom and essences of your preference and continue stirring for a few more minutes until it thickens.

If you wish to have it in a more liquid form, add some condensed milk to the paste and stir some more.

This is best served hot.