Deepavali 屠妖节

Singapore - Little India (Tekka)

新加坡 － 小印度（竹脚）

Deepavali, the festival of lights, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) every year.

The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness or good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.

Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities.

The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period.

The main festival night of Deepavali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika.

In the Gregorian calendar, Deepavali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

On Deepavali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit.

They light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home.

Then they participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of fertility and prosperity.

屠妖节，灯火节，是每年的秋季（北半球）或春季（南半球）庆祝的一个古老的兴都教节日。

这个节日标志着在精神上，光明战胜黑暗或善良战胜邪恶、知识战胜愚昧、希望战胜绝望。

它的庆祝活动包括数以百万计的灯光照在房顶，外门窗，庙宇和各地社区建筑等。

节日的准备和仪式，通常长达五天的时间。

屠妖节的主要节日之夜，与兴都教日月历月份 － 卡迪卡，刚巧也是最黑暗的、新月之夜。

屠妖节夜幕，降临于阳历的十月中旬和十一月中旬之间。

在屠妖节当晚，兴都人会穿新衣服或者穿他们最好的服装。

他们点亮 diyas（灯和蜡烛）以照亮住家内外。

然后，他们参与家庭 puja（膜拜）拉克希米 － 生育与繁荣女神。