By Tanya Batson, Staff Reporter
'Out Of Many One People', an Independence Day float highlighting the culture of India, showed the influence of East Indian culture on Jamaica. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer
THOSE WHO were caught up in the mad clapping frenzy which recently passed over the island should be glad to know that 'Diwali' is much more than a rhythm. It is India's most auspicious festival, 'the festival of lights'.
Last Sunday, the National Council for Indian Culture and the High Commission of India celebrated Diwali on the lawns of India House at 2 East Kings House Road, St Andrew. The festival of lights celebrates the return of King Rama from 14 years of exile. During his exile, King Rama fought and triumphed over the evil King Ravana. King Ravana had kidnapped King Rama's wife, Sita.
As such, Diwali celebrates 'the triumph of good over evil', explains Beryl Singh, chairman of the National Council for Indian Culture in Jamaica. "Diwali to the Hindu, is like Christmas to the Christian," explained Mrs. Singh. Nonetheless, she noted that because the day also celebrates the food and culture of India, Christian Indians can also partake in the celebrations.
Due to the small number of Indians who came to Jamaica as indentured labourers, and the resulting small Indian population on the island, Diwali celebrations have not taken on the cultural significance they have obtained in Trinidad, Guyana or Suriname, where it is a national holiday. Nonetheless, by being a part of Indian culture, it marks an important aspect of Jamaica's cultural diversity.
Although it may not be given the same honour as ackee and saltfish, curry (especially when lovingly rubbed into the flesh of the goat) has become quite established in Jamaican cuisine. Next to salt and country pepper, curry powder is on the list of essentials for every Jamaican kitchen.
A visit to the festival, however, shows that Indian food extends beyond curry, roti and chutney. While there were foods that the average Jamaican would be familiar with as they are a part of the West Indian diet, such as curried goat, there were other items not as familiar to the Jamaican palate.
Some of these were provided by the Indian Cultural Society. This group is one of the groups under the National Council for Indian Culture (which is an umbrella organisation). One of the items on their menu was Tandouri chicken, which may not be completely foreign to those who visit Indian restaurants. Tandouri chicken comes out of northern India. Dishes from southern India also made their way to the menu. Dosa, a flat pancake made of fermented dhal and rice and filled with various stuffings was one of those. Idli, a steamed rice and dhal cake, was also served.
Food was not the only aspect of Indian culture which the festival highlighted. Fashion was also displayed. A section of the stall provided by the High Commission of India, dubbed the 'Killer Looks Section', displayed Indian jewellery. This included items such as Aishwarya necklaces, Madhuri chokers, Noori necklaces, and Jaipuri necklaces.
Other booths in the small area offered various items, including painted silk, scarfs and books. Persons could also get their hands painted, which several of the young indulged in.
Music was also provided by the local band Naya Zamana, which means 'New Beginning'. Although for the most part the instruments were no different from those one would find in a regular band, the difference came in the drums used. There were two kinds of drums, the tabla and the duolak. The doulak is a drum with skin at both ends, which otherwise looks like a congo drum.
The audience was also treated to several dances by the young from the Prema Satasangh group. They served to thrill the audience with their lithe moves. After a while, several women decided that merely listening to the music and watching dancing was not enough. As such they engaged in a lot of spirited dancing, completely ignoring the dust they kicked up as they were swept away by the rhythms.
