Bamboo Bending for Divali in Trinidad

Divail (Diwali) will be celebrated on Saturday 17th October 2009... I have seen some folks doing searches about bamboo bending. So I did a little research, trying to find out about this local practice here in TnT. Bamboo is bent and shaped into various designs and arrangements on which lighted deyas are placed on Divali night. It creates a magnificent scene as the deyas arrayed on the bamboo are a spectacular sight tp behold. The darkness of the night makes the lighted glowing, deyas seem surreal; an apt depiction of the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil....I got off track for a moment there, so on to the story....First, the bamboo is cut and hauled from the bush (forest) on many instances. Bamboo in Trinidad is very sturdy and can grow as high as 15 feet or even higher.Bamboo usually grow in a group together called a 'bamboo stool' or 'bamboo patch'. Green bamboo is very pliable and flexible making it the perfect material for bending. While still green, the bamboo is split lengthwise, the longer the strip the better for bending. Next the bamboo strips are twisted, bent and otherwise shaped depicting various things: star, flower or sometimes a simple border especially on personal property. Next the bent bamboo is firmly anchored into the ground through the use of wedges/ pegs. This continues until the desired frame is erected. Some designs are high in the air and so may have more than one 'level' of bamboo. These strips that are not anchored in the ground are nailed or tied to each other using wire. Obviously, more ornate and complex designs are done on temple grounds and other well revered and visited sites. As night approaches on Divali, the deyas are filled with coconut oil (although these days deyas filled with wax are available also) and placed with care on the bamboo designs. What a sight to behold!

All information above is second hand and is for informational purposes only. Please do not attempt or engage in these activities on your own.

Diwali (Divali) in Trinidad and Tobago

Diwali (or Divali as we spell it in good old Tnt) is truly.... repesentative of our unique cultural diversity and unity at the same time. It is a time of great unity in our country as many indo-trinidadians and afro-trinidadians inter-relate on a grand scale. Of course there are the usual racists aka haters who 'love' only those of their race. Thankfully we have not had the ethnic violence as many other countries. Today is a public holiday here in tnt and most business places were closed as well as most government offices.
Yesterday (the day before divali) I chanced to pass through Princes Town (a town in the southern part of the island of Trinidad) and was surprise that the 'town' was overflowing with shoppers reminiscent of 'Christmas shopping'. The banks had long lines as well as the supermarkets. The significant thing about this was that the shoppers were not only of east indian descent but of all other races as well: afro-trinidadians, mixed etc. Truly Divali can now be said to be truly a national holiday. Many prepare sumptuous indian meals and sweets. Those who don't prepare any are invited over to share in the feast by their neighbours, friends, relatives and co-workers etc. The most awesome aspect of Divali is the lighting of diyas (deya in trini language) after dark on Divali night (tonight by the way. In the yards and gardens of many homes, savannas, etc many Hindu devotees erect beautiful structures out of bamboo by splitting and bending into various shapes and symbols etc. In a little while my kids and I will be journeying around our village/ neighbourhood to view the lighted deyas. Hope to bring back some pics. So enjoy!