At Davora, we understand these festivals. We also understand that when these celebrations occur in the UK, they carry their own flavour.

To help you share our understanding we have put together this guide. It explains some of the key festivals that we cater for.

Diwali

Q. Who celebrates Diwali?

A. Diwali is celebrated by the Hindu and Sikh community.

Q. When is Diwali?

A. The date for Diwali varies each year since it follows the Hindu calendar (which is based on a variation of the lunar cycle). It usually falls around October/November. This year Diwali will be celebrated on 5th November 2010.

Q. What is the history of Diwali?

A. There are a number of origins of Diwali varying across different parts of India. One of the popular reasons for celebrating Diwali is taken from the Hindu Epic the Ramayan, in which Lord Rama returns to his kingdom of Ayodhya with his wife and brother after 14 years of exile, during which he defeated the demon Ravana. The people of Ayodyha lit oil lamps along the way to light up their path in the darkness - possibly why this is called the festival of light.

Diwali is also a time of worship, particularly of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth.

Q. How is Diwali celebrated?

A. Hindu families will wear new clothes, exchange gifts and Indian sweets (and increasingly Greeting Cards too!) and light fireworks. Candles are lit around the home. Prayers are held at home or in local temples, followed by family gatherings and feasts.

Diwali is a new year celebration in the Hindu calendar, and a time to pray to Lakshmi for a prosperous year ahead. Many new business ventures are started at this time of year in India

As in India, Diwali is fast becoming one of the most popular Asian festivals in which greetings cards are exchanged. Awareness of Diwali is also increasing thanks to mainstream television - in 2003, Diwali was celebrated on Eastenders!

Eid

Q. Who celebrates Eid?

A. Eid is an Islamic occasion celebrated by the Muslim community.

Q. When is Eid?

A. There are two Eid celebrations each year. Both follow the Islamic calendar (a Lunar calendar), in which a year is about 354 days. Thus the Eid festivals fall approximately 11 days earlier each year. Eid-ul-Fitr falls on 10th September 2010 this year and Eid-ul-Adha is on 16th November 2010.

Being based on the visibility of the moon, the date can vary across the globe by a day or so.

Q. What is the history of Eid?

A. Eid-ul-Fitr (often called just "Eid" or festival of fast-breaking) celebrates the end of the holy month of fasting called Ramadan. It is said that it was during Ramadan that the holy Quran was revealed by Allah to the Prophet Muhammad.

Eid-ul-Adha (festival of sacrifice) is a commemoration of the story of Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) steadfast willingness to sacrifice his son for the love of God, despite temptations to do otherwise. Muslims on pilgrimage to Mecca (performing the rites of Hajj - the fifth pillar of Islam) use the occasion to celebrate the end of their pilgrimage.

Q. How is Eid celebrated?

A. The celebrations for Eid-ul-Fitr begin following confirmation of the sighting of the moon. Special prayers are held in mosques. New clothes are worn, homes are decorated and plenty of special traditional foods are prepared. It is a time of giving and receiving gifts and feasting - the first daytime meal since before the month of fasting began. As with Diwali, Greeting Cards are a popular way to send wishes to loved ones.

Eid-ul-Adha is also a family and friends occasion, with prayers, new clothes and gatherings. A sacrificial lamb or sheep forms part of the feast which is enjoyed by friends and family together.

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is an ancient Hindu tradition. It’s origins are unclear; some sources refer to a battle between gods and demons, in which Indra (the king of Gods) received a thread charged it with sacred verses for protection and had it tied on his hand. Through the strength of this thread Indra conquered his enemies.

Other sources refer to the time when Alexander The Great invaded India. Alexandra’s wife tied a thread on the hand of King Puru who in return accepted her as his sister. When the opportunity came during the war, Puru refrained from eliminating Alexander.

In modern times, sisters tie a decorative thread on the wrist of their brothers. Brothers in return offer promise to forever protect their sisters and offer gifts.

Davora's Raksha Bandhan cards are designed to be given to to a brother by his sister. All cards carry the Rakhi thread bound inside.