Big celebrations took place for the annual celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of light which fell on Monday 4 November this year.
Read all about Diwali and see the Diwali artwork in the gallery, created by schools in Coventry and Warwick.
Find out about the Diwali lights in Coventry and Leamington and about special events and workshops that took place around the city as part of the celebrations.
Diwali (Deepvali) literally means 'a row of lamps' in Sanskrit, the ancient Hindu language.
It is a Hindu festival of lights which marks the New Year and is celebrated between late October and mid-November.
听Why is it celebrated? Myths and Legends
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| 听 |  | The Hindu God Shiva
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The legends behind Diwali are as varied as the methods of celebration.
However, there is a common theme running through them all - the triumph of good over evil.
The most popular tale tells of a demon named Narkasura who managed to acquire such awesome powers that he began to terrorize the "three worlds".
His defeat and death at the hands of Krishna is celebrated as Diwali, and the day preceding the new moon in the months of Ashwin-Kartik in the Hindu calendar is known as Naraka Chaturdasi.
听| 听 |  | Decorative street lights in Coventry and Leamington for Diwali.
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Coventry celebrated Diwali with stunning strings of colourful lights spanning the Foleshill Road.
The lights were switched on on Sunday 27 October and stayed on for a week.
Leamington
Diwali was also celebrated with food and free entertainmant at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington on the evening of Thursday 31 October.
听Diwali gallery and Rangoli workshops
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Foleshill Church of England Primary School in Coventry and Myton Secondary School in Warwick have created a beautiful Diwali gallery for our website.
They've used a range of techniques including collage, drawing, glitter and calligraphy to create their artwork.
Click the images button to see the Diwali artwork in the Autumn Festival gallery.
CLICK THE IMAGES BUTTON
| 听 |  | Rangoli pattern artwork.
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Sharing Diwali
Sharing Diwali was an educational workshop involving local schools and the community for Diwali.
The workshop took place on Tuesday 5 November at the Shree Mandhata Samaj Hall, Cross Road in Coventry.
The Lord Mayor of Coventry and other guests attended the event in the afternoon.
Rangoli workshops
People also joined in the arty fun and celebrated Diwali by making a take-away Rangoli pattern or a Diwa light in Coventry.
The Rangoli workshops ttok place in Longford Park and Coventry's Canal Basin.
Why are Rangoli patterns made for Diwali?
Colourful designs called a Rangoli are made near the entrance to a house to welcome guests for Diwali.
Traditionally they are painted or created out of coloured sand/rice powder. A symmetrical design or picture of Gods, Goddess, Dancers and Diwas are drawn and coloured rice powder/sand is then layered on top to form a picture.
What are Diwa lights?
A Diwa is a small light that is lit especially at Diwali. They are usually made of clay. Ghee (clarified butter) or oil is used as the fuel and cotton wool as the wick.
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| 听 |  | A diwa lamp pictured in the online Diwali gallery
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Diwa lamps
Diwa lamps are lit inside and outside houses. In India lamps are often floated along rivers, too.
Presents given for Diwali
Presents are given and Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune, visits every house lit by a lamp.
听Diwali in the UK compared to India
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| 听 |  | HAPPY DIWALI!
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Diwali compared
between UK and India.
Our Bollywood reviewer, Manish is heading off to India for the period of Diwali.
He will be writing a feature for us and the 大象传媒 Shropshire website about the differences between Diwali celebrations in the UK and India.
He will also be taking lots of photographs, so on his return we can create a special Diwali gallery from India for the website.
You can read his Diwali feature on the 大象传媒 Shropshire website by following the link on the left.
Return to the website to see his picture gallery.
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