Many Indian schools in Dubai have announced a four-day long weekend to celebrate Diwali – the Indian ‘Festival of Lights’.
Several schools, including Delhi Private School Dubai, Springdales School Dubai, and Amity High School, are taking Monday 24 October and Tuesday 25 October as holidays. This, combined with the normal Saturday-Sunday off, means a four-day weekend for students of these schools.
For certain schools, this comes as an extension of the mid-term break that has already started, with all schools resuming classes on Wednesday 26 October.
Many educational institutions announce a holiday every year to give families time to celebrate the occasion in their homes
Many educational institutions announce a holiday every year to give families time to celebrate the occasion in their homes. For lots of people, this festival honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Lamps are lit and windows and doors are left open to help Lakshmi find her way into their homes.
Other ways that Hindus celebrate the festival include spring-cleaning the home; wearing new clothes; exchanging gifts (often sweets and dried fruits) and preparing festive meals; decorating buildings with fancy lights; and huge fireworks displays.
Springdales School is also organizing a ‘Grand Diwali Mela’ on 21 October, with parents invited to come and celebrate with the school and its students.
Celebrations have already begun across the UAE. Festivities commenced on Friday 14 October, with plans to attract millions of Hindus living and working in the UAE to participate in the outdoor entertainment on offer.