OZANAM EDUCATION Project English Reading

Deepavali Festival

Diwali is a popular holiday celebrated by Hindu people around the world. In India, it
is the biggest holiday of the year. It marks the end of the harvest season and the
beginning of a new year. Diwali usually falls between the middle of October and the
middle of November. The actual day depends on when there is a new moon.

Diwali, sometimes called Deepavali, is known as the Festival of Lights. People light
candles or small clay lamps called diyas to invite good luck from the Hindu Goddess
Lakshmi and the God Ganesh, who represent good fortune, knowledge, and wealth.

The day before Diwali, people clean and decorate their homes and offices. According
to legend, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, blesses the homes that are shiny and clean.

On the night of Diwali, many light lamps and candles inside and outside their homes.
They often have family prayers, called puja, followed by fireworks and a family feast.

It is a custom to wear new clothes for Diwali. In India it is a busy time for the stores.
If they can, people give food and clothes to those in need.

Depending on where you live, Diwali can last up to 5 days, with different traditions
happening on each one.

Special Foods for Diwali

Food is a big part of Diwali - especially sweets.

Days before Diwali, people prepare loads of sweet treats to exchange with friends and
neighbors. Some of the more popular sweets are:

Gulab Jamun - deep fried dumplings soaked in syrup

Ladoo - balls of flour, almonds, sugar and spices
Jalebi - sweet fried chickpea flour shaped like pretzels
Peda - soft fudge flavored with Indian spices

Although sweets are often the highlight, a Diwali feast has a lot of other delicious
food. During Diwali, many Indians only eat vegetarian dishes. Some common ones
are made from chickpeas (channa), spinach (saag), and potatoes (aloo). Lots of
vegetables are included to celebrate the harvest and to wish for good fortune to last
for the whole year.
 OZANAM EDUCATION Project English Reading
Deepavali Festival
Many of the foods for Diwali are fried. The heating of the oil goes along with the
lighting and burning of candles that are part of the Diwali tradition.

Diwali is a happy, colorful, and bright celebration, and this is shown through the food
that is part of it.

Answer the following questions

1. What is Deepavali
a. A city of india
b. A holiday
c. A lamp

2. When Deepavali celebrated?

a. October
b. Between October November
c. November

3. Which sweet deepavali treat is like a soft fudge?

a. Ladoo
b. Jalebi
c. Pada
 OZANAM EDUCATION Project English Reading
Deepavali Festival
Deepavali Word Search.
It can be across, down, diagonal. Ganesh, Clean, Diya, Lamp, Moon, Myth

C L E A N G

M M Y T H A

S Q P U M N

D I Y A O E

L A M P D S

F J H K N H
OZANAM EDUCATION Project English Reading
Deepavali Festival