Divali in Trinidad And Tobago: The Light That Connects Us All
- Nadia Renata
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
Each year, as the new moon rises between October and November, the darkness across Trinidad and Tobago begins to shimmer. One by one, tiny flames appear, glowing in doorways, tracing fences and dancing across bamboo arches. From temples to backyards, the whole country glows with quiet reverence, a reminder that even in our smallest gestures, light has a way of finding its place.
This is Divali, the Festival of Lights.
It is one of those moments that reminds us who we are, a people layered in history, luminous in spirit and connected by something far deeper than difference, our shared humanity.
What Divali Represents
At its heart, Divali (also spelt Diwali or Deepavali) celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. But it’s not only a Hindu festival; it’s a timeless metaphor for renewal.
The stories behind it are many. Some celebrate the return of Lord Rama after defeating Ravana, others honour Lord Krishna’s triumph over the demon Narakaasura, and still others pay homage to Goddess Lakshmi, the bringer of prosperity and spiritual abundance.
Yet what makes Divali powerful isn’t the mythology alone, but the message that transcends it: that clarity can emerge from confusion, that faith can outlast fear and that even the smallest flame can pierce the longest night.
That’s why Divali resonates across Trinidad and Tobago; it isn’t just about lighting deyas. It’s about choosing to keep the light burning, especially when the world feels dim.
How Divali Came to Our Shores
Divali journeyed to these islands in 1845, carried by Indian indentured labourers who crossed oceans with little more than their traditions, their songs and their resilience. In the barracks and cane fields of colonial Trinidad, they lit their first deyas, fragile flames that stood as symbols of remembrance, hope and endurance.
Over time, those small flames grew into something extraordinary. They became part of the national story, evolving, adapting and flourishing within a Caribbean identity. Today, Divali is a national holiday, recognised not only as a religious observance but as a cultural inheritance that belongs to us all.
It stands as a symbol of Trinidad and Tobago’s plural spirit, many roots, one soil and a reminder that our strength as a people lies in how we honour each other’s light.
How We Celebrate Divali in Trinidad & Tobago
In the days leading up to Divali, homes are cleaned and decorated, symbolising inner and outer purification. Families prepare sweets like barfi, gulab jamun and parsad, while devotees observe fasting, abstinence and prayer, grounding themselves in discipline and devotion before the light returns. Each puja, whether performed at home or temple, becomes an offering of gratitude and renewal, a quiet reminder that the greatest light begins within.
When the evening arrives, the island transforms. Thousands of deyas; small clay lamps filled with coconut oil or ghee, are lit and placed with care. Their flames flicker across bamboo frames bent into arches, stars and temples, an artistry unique to the Indo-Caribbean imagination.
From Felicity to Debe, Penal to Chaguanas, entire communities become rivers of light. Streets glow gold, laughter drifts through open doors and the scent of incense, curry leaf and fried delicacies fills the air. At the heart of it all stands Divali Nagar, the grand cultural village where tradition and innovation meet, blending music, fashion, dance and storytelling in a proud display of Indo-Caribbean heritage.
And beyond the rituals, the spirit of Divali is shared. You don’t have to be Hindu to feel it, you simply have to believe that kindness still matters, that peace still has power and that a good heart still makes the world brighter.
The Deeper Meaning for Us as a Nation
Divali is more than a religious festival; it’s a reminder of what happens when cultures meet with respect and openness. It is a living story of survival, adaptation and belonging.
It tells of ancestors who carried their faith across the sea, planted it in new soil, and watched it take root in the Caribbean sun.
It also reminds us that faith is not only prayer; it’s action. It’s how we treat each other. It’s how we build bridges between communities and honour the diverse threads that make up our national tapestry.
In a world that often feels divided, Divali teaches us to build bridges, not barriers and to honour every light that adds to our collective glow. Because when we light one deya for ourselves, we also light one for the person beside us. And when one light becomes many, the darkness never stands a chance.
The Power of Shared Light
Divali is a masterclass in unity. It shows us how a single act, lighting a lamp, can transcend language, religion and race. Across Trinidad and Tobago, Muslims, Christians, Spiritual Baptists and non-religious citizens join in the glow. It’s a living example of inclusion done right, where appreciation replaces appropriation, where respect replaces division and where every light, regardless of its source, adds to the brilliance of the whole.
In this way, Divali reminds us that multiculturalism isn’t something to claim on paper; it’s something we practice. It’s how we show up for each other’s light.
Beyond Celebration: Reclaiming the Narrative
If we are to elevate Caribbean culture beyond colonial lenses, we must tell our stories our way.
Divali isn’t an “imported Indian custom.” It’s a living Caribbean tradition, reshaped by the hands and hearts of those who brought it here. From the artistry of bamboo arches to the blending of foods and languages, it is a festival reborn through Caribbean imagination.
That’s why it deserves to be seen not as a replica of India’s celebration but as a cultural innovation born from resilience, a perfect example of how the Caribbean doesn’t copy; it creates. For too long, Caribbean traditions have been framed through borrowed lenses. But to truly honour our culture, we must tell our stories our way.
Opportunities to Build Brighter
Festivals like Divali offer more than inspiration; they hold opportunities for growth - cultural, social and economic.
Heritage tourism: Imagine a “Divali Weekend Experience” - guided night tours through the lit streets of Felicity or Debe, clay-lamp workshops, Indo-Caribbean food trails and storytelling sessions that share the Ramayana through a Caribbean lens.
Creative industries: Local artisans making handcrafted deyas, designers collaborating on modern bamboo light installations, youth-led eco-lighting projects using coconut shells or solar lamps.
Culinary fusion: Food vendors showcasing classic sweets like barfi and gulab jamun alongside Caribbean twists; a living blend of taste and tradition.
Sustainability & social impact: Community clean-ups before and after Divali, reusable lamps, biodegradable oils and charity drives that honour the spirit of giving, merging faith with responsibility.
Cultural branding: A “Caribbean Divali” identity that celebrates our own distinct expression, the bamboo artistry, the music, the open-heartedness of our gatherings. This is how culture and commerce can align without losing integrity.
Keeping the Flame True
As we celebrate, we must also protect what makes the festival sacred.The risk of over-commercialisation, environmental impact and loss of meaning is real. When the light becomes a spectacle without substance, we lose the very soul of what we’re honouring.
Divali asks us to look inward, to light lamps not only on our steps, but within our hearts. To remember that the beauty of the festival isn’t in how many deyas we light, but in how brightly we live the values they represent: clarity, compassion, truth and peace.
Light as Legacy
From the flicker of a single deya to the glow of thousands, Divali reminds us that illumination begins within. It calls us to nurture our inner light - with compassion, courage, humility and honesty, and to let that light ripple outward into the world.
The first deyas lit on these islands were small acts of defiance and faith. Today, they are acts of celebration and unity. Together, they form a constellation of hope across Trinidad and Tobago.
So tonight, as the deyas glow across our islands, may we not only celebrate the return of light but also the resilience of the people who carried it here and the beauty of a nation that continues to carry it forward.
The future of Divali in Trinidad and Tobago and across the Caribbean, depends on how we continue to tell the story. We can protect its roots while expanding its reach. We can celebrate its artistry while honouring its spirituality. And we can ensure it remains a bridge between communities, not a line of separation.
Because when light becomes shared, culture becomes strength. And when the Caribbean celebrates with consciousness, we don’t just honour the past, we illuminate the future.
Happy Divali, Trinidad and Tobago!
May your homes, and your hearts, always be filled with light.
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