Hindu residents of Saudi Arabia are lighting up their homes for Diwali, sharing the festival of lights with the kingdom's other inhabitants.
Diwali is typically celebrated by socialising and exchanging gifts with family and friends. Many light oil lamps or candles to symbolise a victory of light over darkness, and fireworks are set off as part of the celebrations.
Last year, celebrations worldwide were upended by the Covid-19 pandemic, creating extra excitement over festivities this year.
“On Diwali, we decorate our homes, make sweets and savoury snacks and meet our friends,” said Aksha Patel, an Indian resident of the kingdom.
“We are going to a Diwali party with 40-50 people. We have dinner, games and traditional dandiya [a dance that uses wooden sticks] dances planned. Celebrations will go on till 2am.
“In the morning, I had friends over to make the rangoli while I cooked traditional delicacies for them.
“We got dressed in gold jewellery and silk saris. For the evening, my husband and I wear matching outfits. We got these from India especially for Diwali.”
The preceding days are filled with cooking and decorating.
Ms Patel said she had made a rangoli, a traditional pattern made of rice and coloured powders or sand, on the floor of her home and had baked traditional Indian sweets for the occasion.
“Every holiday or festival in India is marked by its unique festivities and mithai [sweets]. This year, I made gujjia, which is deep-fried dough with sugar and other condiments,” she said.
Following in the footsteps of friends and family in India, Mrs Patel said her family will forgo the use of fireworks to help protect the environment.
Indian restaurants are also celebrating the festival, creating special delicacies for Diwali.
“I make a lot of mithai for Diwali. We have a lot of takeaway orders and a huge party in our dining hall today,” said Abdul Riaz, an Indian chef at a local bakery in Jeddah.
Alfiya Mansour, an Indian national who has been living in the kingdom for nine years, said she is pleasantly surprised by changes to Saudi Arabia's laws allowing for a more open celebration of her religion.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 has allowed religious and other festivals to be celebrated more openly by the kingdom's diverse population.
“We love celebrating the Indian festivals like Holi — the festival of colours — and Diwali, where we dress up in Indian clothes and dance to Indian music,” says Nada Mustafa, a South African resident of the kingdom.
“We had an official Holi run this year and previously,” she said.
“We participated in the run at Riyadh Season for the celebrations, where we danced to Bollywood songs with people from all nationalities, including young Saudis. I love the new changes and really enjoy celebrating all our traditional festivals with my Arab friends.”
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Results
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
