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Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Jay and Tina are preparing for the autumn Hindu festival of Diwali, also known as the Festival of Light. They have created 101 clay diyas, small cup-shaped oil lamps, to light up their house during the festivities. The total of 101 is an important number; it is a number that symbolizes purity. While the clay diyas sit in the sun to dry, the young people busy themselves cleaning the house. Everything must be clean for Diwali. Then they attend the theatrical production that relates the story of Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana, one of the many stories and legends associated with Diwali. The next day the young people decorate the house and hope the diyas are dry in time to light for the festivities.
Anitha Rathod’s picture book story, Diwali the Magical Diyas: Diwali Story, is a charming and informative story to teach young readers about a very important festival in the Hindu calendar. The book is colorfully illustrated using lots of gold and bright colors as one would expect when decorating a home for the Diwali festival. The author has presented two young people helping in the preparations and enjoying a theatrical production that follows one of the stories associated with this festival. There is a glossary of Hindu terms used in the book as well as instructions on how to pronounce the words. At the end, there is a brief description of the meaning of the festival, the meaning of the number 101, the meaning of light and how it expresses joy and happiness. A wonderful learning tool for young readers.
