Educational Media Reviews Online

A young girl and her family bring a Hindu tradition to North America in this engaging and beautifully animated film by director Michael Vo. Divali is the festival of lights celebrated and observed by Hindus in honor of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, who brings good fortune and prosperity to all people throughout the year. Eight-year-old Gita is excited to be celebrating Divali with her parents and her friends. But when an ice storm threatens to ruin the festivities, the young girl learns the true spirit of Divali and is able to finally understand the holiday’s real meaning in her new life. At just under eight minutes, the film adapts the story taken from Rachna Gilmore’s picture book of the same name. Vibrant colors and a smooth narration bring Gita and her family to life and dramatize the very real impact of the blending of cultures and traditions in a new world. Wonderful animation makes Divali come alive for viewers unfamiliar with this Hindu festival and is sure to please a younger audience.

Part of the “Talespinners” series produced by the National Film Board of Canada, this video would be the ideal complement for a unit on multiculturalism or world holidays. It will find use in elementary classrooms and libraries, or in academic libraries serving students in teacher education programs. Recommended. (Includes a study guide and teaching ideas inside video cover.)