Shubh Divali

The word ‘Divali’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali’ meaning a row of lights. ‘Deep’ means light or lamp and ‘avali’ means row. Hence Divali literally signifies a row or cluster of lights. That's why Divali (aka Diwali or Deepavali) is also known as the "Festival of Lights".

On the day of Divali, Hindus light clay or oil lamps (called ‘deyas’) in & around their homes, temples, gardens, rooftops, streets and outer walls. This decoration with deyas during Divali makes everything look amazingly gorgeous and vibrant. Divali is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm here in T&T as Divali is considered to be one of our more "celebrated" holidays. The whole country joins in celebration with the Hindu community, with Hindus and non-Hindus partaking in the lighting of deyas and house lights, the bursting of bamboo, firework displays and enjoying the many varieties of indigenous East Indian foods and sweets.  Many rotishops do brisk business around Divali, with many having to make extra rotis and roti-skins to cater for the increased demand for the delicacies…

Many Hindus invite  close friends, family and relations to their homes to partake in meals celebrating the religious festival, with some going so far as to invite complete strangers into their homes to help them celebrate the joyous occasion.

Some employers allow their employees to dress in traditional East Indian garb to celebrate the occasion. Divali is also considered by many in T&T to be a forerunner to the Christmas season, with a lot of people electing to start putting up their Christmas lights and making their preparations right around, or soon after, Divali.

Take a look at some pictures I took last year during the Divali celebrations on Ethel Street, in the suburb of Port of Spain known as St James.

Enjoy.

Bobolee Chron
–
Resident expert on all things Cracked.

my blogs:
boboleechronicles.wordpress.com
boboleepix.wordpress.com
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New Graffiti from Banksy

Were it up to me, this'd be called "Steamed and Rolled"…

…and I'd call this one (below) "What Doh Kill"

(via The Wooster Collective)

[tags banksy, graffiti, street art]

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Food for thought…

Click to read…

Oh, and if you've got 20 minutes to spare, take a look at this:

Click to read…

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ID Theft Prevention Quiz Gives Free Protection

The Identity Theft Assistance Centre (ITAC) has made available an "Identity Theft Prevention Quiz" and is offering FREE identity monitoring services (for 6 months) to the first 1,500 US residents  who take the quiz.

Even though you're not a US resident, take the quiz.

It tests your knowledge regarding your personal information safety, online AND off.  It really helped me understand some of the practical steps one needs to take to protect all aspects one's identity.

14 questions & less than 5 minutes long.  Time well spent, in my view.

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My Day Today

I was out and about today…

Connect the dots! Passed by this old office building on Maraval Road, Port of Spain.

I ran into an artist painting...

She was painting a coconut carriage around the Savannah...

...and attracted a fair amount of curiosity and attention.

She was doing an oil painting for a friend's new art gallery. She uses a plastic bag as a palette. I thought it looked pretty.

While I was there watching her work, I noticed some interesting sights…

Pretty Tree Cathedral

Ackee flowers (?) in coconut shell.

Stag... a man's beer.

I was hungry, so I told my new artist friend “goodbye” and travelled somewhere for lunch.

Lunch was part-Latin, but lunch was all good!

Here are the condiments. Clockwise from upper left: Hot pepper sauce, Tamarind sauce, Garlic sauce and Shadon Beni sauce.

Lunch was polenta, stewed chicken, with a side salad of stir-fried seasoned broccoli and cauliflower florets. Washed down with Pommecythere (golden apple) juice.

Did I mention that lunch was good?

I decided to have a slice of heaven for dessert. Oops... I meant carrot cake...

After I'd paid for lunch, I looked around and saw some interesting pictures hanging on a nearby wall.

They were rare pictures of popular calypsonians (some of whom are deceased).  I took pictures of them.  The owner objected though.  I deleted them out of respect for his collection.  He promised me that we could meet to chat after Carnival was over and he’d let me see the others.

Today was a good day…

Peace and Rice,

jw

Making Their Mark

I like graffiti.  Always have.  I guess it has a lot to do with the freeform expression… the ability to rush a beautiful piece of rebellion onto a surface without getting caught.  At school, I used to express myself quite liberally in wood carvings on my desks.

Anyway, over the last few years, graffiti artists have been making Port of Spain their canvas of choice.  I’ve chronicled some of their exploits in the public space before (some examples here, here and here).

I’ve been noticing a new artist on the scene these days… artistes, probably.  An artist or a collective going by the name of “HOWOK”…

Click the pix to see more of what they’ve been up to…

Peace and Rice,

jw

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Sitting on a bench around the Queen’s Park Savannah on a moonlight night.

I mean to read the book of the same title one of these good days…

Peace and Rice,

jw