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Lights in the Dark: The Story of Diwali · Faithfully Explore!

0:00
Laura: Wow, look at that.
0:02
Laura: Do you see the colorful fireworks bursting in the dark sky?
0:06
Laura: And, mmm, can you smell that sweetness in the air?
0:11
Laura: I think it's coming from delicious Indian sweets.
0:15
Laura: All around us, little lamps are glowing, lighting up the night.
0:21
Laura: It feels magical, doesn't it?
0:23
Laura: Welcome back to Faithfully Explore.
0:26
Laura: I'm your host, Laura.
0:27
Laura: Today, we're celebrating a festival all about overcoming darkness, Diwali, the Festival of Lights.
0:37
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Faithfully Explore!
0:38
Faithfully Explore! Intro: is the name.
0:41
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Learning together is our aim.
0:45
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Beliefs around the globe we'll track, filling up our Belief Backpack.
0:53
Laura: First, what is Diwali?
0:55
Laura: Diwali is one of the biggest and most important holidays in India, as important to Hindus as Christmas is to Christians.
1:05
Laura: In fact, over a billion people around the world celebrate Diwali each year.
1:12
Laura: It usually comes in October or November on the new moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik.
1:20
Laura: That's why the date changes each year, because it follows a lunar calendar.
1:26
Laura: Imagine the darkest night, no moon at all, and then imagine millions of lights twinkling everywhere to brighten it up.
1:36
Laura: That's Diwali night.
1:38
Laura: Diwali is a five-day festival in many parts of India.
1:43
Laura: Each day has its own name and traditions, but the third day is the main Diwali day when the biggest feasts, fireworks, and celebrations happen.
1:55
Laura: It's such a joyful time that preparations can go for weeks.
2:00
Laura: Families clean their homes top to bottom, shop for new clothes or gifts, and make yummy snacks to share.
2:08
Laura: By the time Diwali arrives, homes are sparkling clean and decorated with lights and vibrant colors, ready for the celebration of the year.
2:20
Laura: Now, why do people celebrate Diwali?
2:24
Laura: The beautiful thing is that Diwali's meaning can be a little different depending on who you ask, but it always comes back to light, goodness, and hope.
2:37
Laura: In Hindu tradition, Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
2:44
Laura: One of the most famous Diwali stories in Hinduism is about Prince Rama and Princess Sita.
2:51
Laura: According to that story, Prince Rama was a wise and virtuous hero who defeated a wicked demon king and saved his wife, Sita.
3:03
Laura: Diwali marks the happy day when Rama and Sita returned to their kingdom after a long exile and a great victory.
3:12
Laura: The people welcomed them home by lighting rows of lamps called diyas everywhere, turning the dark night into a bright celebration.
3:22
Laura: We'll hear more about that story in a bit during story time.
3:27
Laura: Another popular story celebrates how Lord Krishna defeated a terrible demon named Narakasura, another tale of good triumphing over evil.
3:40
Laura: No matter the story, the message is similar.
3:45
Laura: Light beats darkness, good beats bad.
3:50
Laura: Before we continue, let's take a quick break to move our bodies.
3:54
Laura: Ready for a movement moment?
3:56
Laura: Let's try a lotus pose, a calming yoga pose inspired by the lotus flower, which is an important symbol in Hinduism.
4:06
Laura: Sit down cross-legged on the floor.
4:09
Laura: Keep your back nice and straight.
4:12
Laura: Now place your hands on your knees, Palms up with your thumb and first finger touching gently.
4:20
Laura: Close your eyes.
4:22
Laura: Take a deep breath in and out.
4:30
Laura: Inhale, exhale.
4:34
Laura: Imagine you're a peaceful lotus flower floating on a pond.
4:38
Laura: The lotus flower blooms in muddy water but stays bright and beautiful, just like how during Diwali, light shines even in the dark.
4:50
Laura: Take one more deep breath.
4:57
Laura: Great.
4:58
Laura: Open your eyes.
4:59
Laura: Feel calmer and focused?
5:02
Laura: I do.
5:03
Laura: Let's go on a Diwali imagination adventure.
5:08
Laura: We're on a street in India, and the air smells like sweet treats and incense.
5:14
Laura: By the doorways are rangoli, colorful designs made from powders, sand, or flower petals.
5:23
Laura: Imagine bright swirls and lotus flowers with little lamps shining nearby.
5:29
Laura: Later, families sweep the designs away, sometimes making new ones the next day.
5:35
Laura: They can remind us that something doesn't have to last forever to bring us joy.
5:41
Laura: Nearby, a grandfather lights diyas, small clay oil lamps.
5:47
Laura: Their tiny flames fill the street with a warm glow.
5:52
Laura: Suddenly, boom!
5:54
Laura: A firework sparkles overhead.
5:57
Laura: From one home, we hear a bell and chanting.
6:01
Laura: A family is celebrating a puja, a prayer ceremony, offering prayers to Lakshmi.
6:08
Laura: Their home altar holds images of Lakshmi and Ganesha surrounded by flowers And, oh, the food.
6:17
Laura: There are mithai sweets, including round ladoos and creamy pieces of burfi.
6:24
Laura: Neighbors share treats and call, "Happy Diwali!"
6:28
Laura: Open your eyes.
6:30
Laura: Could you picture the glowing lamps and colorful rangoli?
6:35
Laura: Families celebrate in different ways, but light, prayers, and time together are important to many.
6:43
Laura: From Mumbai to London to New York, families gather to celebrate.
6:51
Laura: Let's cross our Friendship Bridge.
6:55
Do only Hindus celebrate Diwali?
6:57
Laura: Great question.
6:59
Laura: While Diwali began as a Hindu festival, it's celebrated by other faiths in India too, each one with their own twist.
7:09
Laura: Our Jain friends observe Diwali as the day Lord Mahavira, their most important teacher, attained nirvana.
7:18
Laura: They see it as a time when the light of sacred knowledge was spread.
7:24
Laura: Many Sikh families celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as Diwali.
7:31
Laura: It honors a hero, Guru Hargobind, who escaped unjust imprisonment and helped free 52 other princes with him.
7:41
Laura: How's that for a real-life good guy wins story?
7:46
Laura: Sikh gurdwaras or temples are filled with lights and music on this day, just like Diwali celebrations, and even some Buddhist communities join in.
7:58
Laura: For example, in Nepal, Buddhists of the Newar community celebrate a festival called Swanti alongside Hindus celebrating Diwali, and they light lamps to honor Goddess Lakshmi too.
8:12
Laura: So Diwali truly crosses religious and cultural lines.
8:17
Laura: It's become a national festival in India, enjoyed by many people of many backgrounds.
8:24
Laura: In fact, Diwali is an official holiday, not just in India, but in about a dozen countries from Nepal and Malaysia to Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago.
8:36
Laura: Wherever Indian communities have carried their light, Diwali shines brightly.
8:42
Laura: And did I mention Diwali is ancient?
8:45
Laura: It's been celebrated for over 1,000 years.
8:50
Laura: Imagine kids just like you in the seventh century lighting little oil lamps made of clay, celebrating Diwali in a village in India.
9:01
Laura: Now, who's ready for a game?
9:06
Laura: It's game time.
9:12
Laura: I think it's time for Diwali Detective.
9:16
Laura: In this game, you get to be the detective.
9:20
Laura: I'll give you some clues about a Diwali tradition or item, and you try to guess what it is before I reveal the answer.
9:29
Laura: Put on your imaginary detective hats, explorers.
9:33
Laura: Clue number one: I am small, made of clay.
9:37
Laura: When you light me, I shine bright and help chase away darkness.
9:42
Laura: People line up hundreds of me on Diwali night to make their homes glow.
9:48
Laura: What am I?
9:53
Laura: It's a diya lamp.
9:55
Laura: Those little oil clay lamps we talked about.
9:58
Laura: Families place them on window sills, doorways, and even float them on rivers.
10:04
Laura: Each diya's flame stands for light winning over darkness.
10:08
Laura: If you guessed diya, fantastic job.
10:11
Laura: You're lighting up this game.
10:13
Laura: High five!
10:14
Laura: Ready for the next clue?
10:16
Laura: I'm bright and colorful, but I'm not a light.
10:20
Laura: People create me on the floor or ground to welcome guests.
10:25
Laura: I can be made with colorful powders, sand, or flower petals, and I often look like a mandala, flower, or peacock.
10:34
Laura: I only last until someone smudges me away, but I make homes look beautiful during Diwali.
10:42
Laura: What am I?
10:46
Laura: A rangoli design.
10:48
Laura: Rangoli is the decorative art you see on floors during festivals.
10:53
Laura: Rangoli are made to bring good luck.
10:55
Laura: If you guessed rangoli, you're really detecting the details.
11:01
Laura: All right, detectives, we have one more clue.
11:05
Laura: I'm yummy.
11:07
Laura: Oh, so yummy.
11:08
Laura: I include round ladoos, creamy pieces of burfi, and more.
11:14
Laura: During Diwali, people make plates and plates full of me to share with friends and family.
11:20
Laura: What am I?
11:25
Laura: I'm a Diwali sweet called mithai.
11:28
Laura: Any sweet or dessert eaten during Diwali are mithai.
11:33
Laura: Sweets are a huge part of Diwali.
11:36
Laura: Families prepare lots of traditional treats and share them with neighbors and guests.
11:43
Laura: It's all about sharing the joy.
11:45
Laura: If you knew that one, you were really paying attention.
11:49
Laura: Great job, Diwali detectives.
11:52
Laura: You cracked all the clues.
11:54
Laura: Give yourself a little round of applause.
11:57
Laura: Now that we've learned about lamps, rangoli, and treats, I think we're ready for the big adventure of the day, story time.
12:07
Laura: Long, long ago in a kingdom called Ayodhya, there lived a good and noble prince named Rama.
12:15
Laura: Prince Rama was brave, kind, and loved by all.
12:20
Laura: He had a beautiful wife, Princess Sita, who was wise and gentle.
12:25
Laura: Rama also had a loyal named Lakshmana who never left his side.
12:31
Laura: They lived happily in the grand kingdom with King Dasharatha, Rama's father.
12:38
Laura: Rama's stepmother demanded that Rama leave the palace and live in the forest for 14 years so that her son could be king instead.
12:48
Laura: The king reluctantly agreed.
12:51
Laura: Being obedient, Prince Rama accepted this without anger.
12:56
Laura: Sita and Lakshmana insisted on going with Rama, so the three left the comfort of the palace and ventured into the deep green forest.
13:07
Laura: They built a hut and tried to make a peaceful life in the woods.
13:11
Laura: For a while, things were calm.
13:14
Laura: But far away in the kingdom of Lanka, trouble was brewing.
13:21
Laura: Ravana, a fearsome demon king, learned of Prince Rama and Princess Sita living in the forest.
13:28
Laura: Ravana was no ordinary villain.
13:31
Laura: He had 10 heads and 20 arms and a heart full of greed and anger.
13:38
Laura: He decided he had to have Sita for himself.
13:43
Laura: One day, Ravana set a devious plan in motion.
13:47
Laura: He sent one of his demon servants to disguise itself as a golden deer in the forest.
13:55
Laura: Rama went after the magical deer.
13:57
Laura: He left Sita under Lakshmana's protection and warned, "Lakshmana, take care of Sita.
14:04
Laura: Don't leave her alone."
14:06
Laura: Off Rama went into the woods, chasing the mysterious deer.
14:11
Laura: Soon, a cry rang through the forest, sounding just like Rama.
14:17
Laura: "Help!"
14:19
Laura: But it was another trick from Ravana.
14:22
Laura: Worried about his brother, Lakshmana decided to go find Rama.
14:26
Laura: Lakshmana drew a protective magic circle around the hut and said, "Stay inside the circle, Princess.
14:34
Laura: It will keep you safe.
14:35
Laura: Do not step outside it."
14:38
Laura: Sita agreed.
14:40
Laura: As soon as Lakshmana ran off, guess who showed up at the hut?
14:45
Laura: Demon King Ravana in disguise.
14:49
Laura: He tricked Sita by appearing as a poor old traveler begging for food.
14:55
Laura: Kind Sita stepped out of the circle to help the old man, and the moment she did, Ravana dropped his disguise.
15:05
Laura: In an instant, he summoned his magic flying chariot, grabbed Princess Sita, and soared into the sky, heading south to his kingdom of Lanka.
15:17
Laura: When Rama and Lakshmana realized Sita was missing, they were heartbroken and desperate to find her.
15:26
Laura: Rama and Lakshmana roamed the land searching for Sita.
15:31
Laura: Along the way, they befriended an incredible ally, Hanuman, the monkey warrior.
15:39
Laura: Hanuman was no ordinary monkey.
15:42
Laura: He could leap across rivers and mountains.
15:46
Laura: Hanuman agreed to help Rama.
15:49
Laura: Hanuman gathered an army of monkeys and bears to assist Rama.
15:54
Laura: They built a bridge across the ocean to reach Lanka.
15:58
Laura: Rama, Lakshmana, Hanuman, and the whole army crossed the sea to Lanka to rescue Sita.
16:06
Laura: When they reached Ravana's fortress, a mighty battle began.
16:12
Laura: Arrows flew, swords clanged, and the earth shook.
16:17
Laura: Rama's army fought Ravana's demons.
16:20
Laura: Hanuman grew as big as a mountain and leapt into the sky.
16:26
Laura: When Rama shot arrows, the demon Ravana used magic to grow more heads back.
16:33
Laura: But Rama eventually fired a special arrow given to him by the gods, and it struck Ravana in the heart.
16:41
Laura: The demon king fell.
16:44
Laura: The battle was won.
16:46
Laura: Good had triumphed over evil.
16:49
Laura: Victory at last!
16:51
Laura: Soon Rama and Sita were reunited.
16:55
Laura: Imagine their joy seeing each other after being separated for so long.
17:01
Laura: They were overwhelmed with happiness and relief.
17:05
Laura: Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana approached the city of Ayodhya on the darkest night of the year, the new moon night.
17:15
Laura: Normally, on a moonless night, everything would be pitch black.
17:20
Laura: But the people of Ayodhya were so eager for their beloved prince and princess to come home that they lit every oil lamp, every candle, and every torch they could find to light up the city.
17:36
Laura: They lined the roads, rooftops, and windows with rows and rows of flickering diyas.
17:43
Laura: With this radiant welcome, Rama and Sita entered their kingdom.
17:49
Laura: The whole city burst into celebration, people cheering, ringing bells, setting off firecrackers, and sharing sweets in joy.
17:59
Laura: This homecoming of Rama and Sita is celebrated as Diwali.
18:05
Laura: That first Diwali night, Ayodhya was a city of lights in the dark.
18:11
Laura: And ever since, each year, people light lamps on Diwali to remember how goodness and light prevailed in the story of Rama and Sita.
18:23
Laura: What's inside our Belief Backpack this week?
18:30
Laura: Let's think back about all the wonderful things we've learned about Diwali, the stories, the sparkling lights, and the traditions that bring people together.
18:40
Laura: To help us remember, let's tuck an important idea into our Belief Backpack.
18:47
Laura: Small acts of goodness can bring light into the world.
18:52
Laura: Imagine one tiny diya glowing on a dark night.
18:57
Laura: Its flame might be small, but you can still see it shining.
19:02
Laura: In our lives, that light can be hope, kindness, or courage.
19:09
Laura: What might your light look like?
19:11
Laura: Maybe you cheer for someone on the other team after they make a great play.
19:16
Laura: Maybe you help rebuild a block tower your little brother accidentally knocks over, or you leave a thank you note drawing for the person who delivers your mail.
19:27
Laura: These small actions say, "Your efforts matter.
19:30
Laura: I'm here to help.
19:32
Laura: I appreciate you."
19:34
Laura: That's a little light worth sharing.
19:37
Laura: Remember how the people of Ayodhya welcomed Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana with rows of lamps?
19:44
Laura: Imagine if each lamp were one kind act.
19:49
Laura: One person helps, another shares, someone else offers encouragement.
19:54
Laura: Soon all those little lights make a brighter place together, just like we put into our Belief Backpack.
20:02
Laura: Small acts of goodness can bring light into the world.
20:07
Laura: What's one way you could shine your light today?
20:10
Laura: Pack that idea safely in your Belief Backpack.
20:13
Laura: When life feels difficult, you can ask others for help and look for one small good thing you can do.
20:21
Laura: Just like a diya shining in the darkness, your kindness matters even when it feels small.
20:28
Laura: Now I have a fun challenge for you.
20:31
Laura: Inspired by Diwali's creative and light-filled traditions, this week create a paper diya.
20:39
Laura: Draw a small bowl-shaped lamp with a flame on top.
20:43
Laura: Decorate it with bright colors.
20:45
Laura: On the flame, write or draw one way you'll brighten someone's day.
20:51
Laura: Display your diya on the fridge or invite your family to make a whole row of service lights.
20:57
Laura: As we come to the end of our Diwali adventure, I feel all warm and glowy, like a row of diya lamps was lit inside me.
21:06
Laura: We smelled the sweet treats, imagined a night full of lights, and even heard an epic story of bravery.
21:14
Laura: We learned that Diwali is more than a festival.
21:18
Laura: It's a reminder to keep our inner light shining by being kind, brave, and generous.
21:26
Laura: Thank you for joining me on this colorful journey.
21:29
Laura: Whether you celebrate Diwali or not, I hope you enjoyed exploring it and found some light to carry with you.
21:37
Laura: Before we say goodbye, let's send a warm wish out to everyone.
21:42
Laura: In India, people say shub Diwali, which means have a blessed Diwali.
21:48
Laura: Can you say that with me?
21:50
Laura: Shub Diwali.
21:52
Laura: This is Laura from Faithfully Explore, saying Shub Diwali.
21:57
Laura: Until next time, stay curious, stay kind, and keep faithfully exploring that wonderful world around you.
22:04
Laura: Happy Diwali, everyone.
22:06
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22:09
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22:14
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