Caribbean Beat — September/October 2019 (#159)

cookup
A feast
for all
Divali, the festival of light and prosperity,
is celebrated by Hindus around the
world — and in the Caribbean. It’s a time
of hospitality and generosity, writes
Franka Philip, whether that means
welcoming friends and neighbours into
your home — or helping those affected
by catastrophe, like the devastating
floods in central and south Trinidad in
2018. And the joy of sharing good food
is at the heart of it all
Illustration by Shalini Seereeram
Trinidad and Tobago is a complex
and beautiful place. In our national
anthem, the standout line is
“where every creed and race find
an equal place.” Because of our
multicultural society, Trinidadians
are very embracing of traditions and celebrations
from different communities. One of the best
examples of this is Divali. This Hindu festival
celebrates the triumph of darkness over light, and
is a festival of renewal for Hindus all over the world,
and right here in T&T.
On the day before Divali, at offices and banks
across the nation, it’s normal to see employees of
all races wearing traditional Indian garb, and if
you’re lucky, there will be a service representative
at the door handing out bags of Indian sweet treats
to customers. One of the beautiful things about
Divali is the outpouring of love and generosity
shown by members of the Hindu community as
they welcome relatives and friends to their homes
on the holiday.
My first proper experience of Divali in a Hindu
household came in my mid-twenties, when I visited
my friend Ricky at his home in Penal in south
Trinidad. Not that I hadn’t had a traditional Indian
meal before, eaten with my hands from a banana
leaf — I’d experienced that at an Indian wedding—
but Divali was special, because of the spectacle of
the many illuminated deyas all around the house.
Ricky’s mother, a short, busy lady with twinkly
eyes and a welcoming smile, took pride in letting
us light some deyas, too, which we placed on a
handmade bamboo bird. Ricky’s mother had a
humble upbringing. but now that she had her own
family and a beautiful home, built after years of
hard work, she was happy to entertain friends and
family at a time when community and togetherness
come first.
My friends and I couldn’t help but notice the
scent of curry wafting from the kitchen. Admittedly,
I hadn’t eaten much that day, so I could
totally enjoy the epic meal that was in prospect.
“Our family takes Divali like Christians take
Christmas,” Ricky explained. “Since earlier, people
have been coming around to eat, and my parents
love it. Mummy also makes sweets for the temple,
and they give them out to kids and the people who
come to worship.”
I was amazed at the lavish spread that evening.
There were delicacies like samosas, saheena, and
baiganee to start. This was followed by a host of
delicious vegetarian dishes: tomato choka (smoked
tomato that’s mashed and served with fresh herbs
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