Source: Silver Chips Online
http://silverchips.mbhs.edu/inside.php?sid=6807
Freshman Ruhi Vasavada stands in a small tent crowded by performers, dressed in a long skirt decorated with mirrors, a matching blouse and a sash draped over her head. This performance signifies her fourth year performing for Diwali Mela, a fair to celebrate the Diwali festival. And in front of her are hundreds of people, waiting eagerly for the many festivities to come.
Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, is one of the major annual festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs all around the world. Even though the actual day of Diwali is Oct. 21 this year, Sept. 30 marked the 12th year anniversary of the Mela, which is organized by the Association of United Hindu and Jain Temples. Each year, hundreds of people from around the D.C. metropolitan area come to the mela to enjoy performances, shop, eat food and have a fun time celebrating their culture.
When Vasavada looks around, she sees mostly Indian faces at the mela. But even within the Indian culture arises great diversity as people from different parts of India offer their own explanations to the origin of the festival.
In North India, Diwali celebrates the return of the Hindu God Rama with his wife and brother after the defeat of the demon Ravana during Rama's 14-year exile in the forest. For Southern Indians, Diwali signifies the defeat of the demon Narakasura in the hands of Lord Sri Krishna. Narakasura was said to have kidnapped and enslaved 16,000 princesses, who were then freed by Krishna.