Divali Nagar (City of Lights) is an annual exposition of Hindu culture (broadly) and Indo-Trinidadian culture (specifically), it is associated with the celebration of Diwali in Trinidad and Tobago. The exposition is staged at the Divali Nagar Site, located in the borough of Chaguanas. This event was started in the Mid Centre Mall car park in late 1986. It was given a permanent site on the John Peters Road Extension off the Uriah Butler Highway a couple of years after.
Although organised as a religious and cultural presentation, Divali Nagar has been criticised by some for the level of commercialization associated with the endeavour. Commercial activity, however partly funds the Nagar which really consumes a lot of resources.Emphasis has to be placed on the several cultural and religious parts of the programme every year and the enormous positive impact it has had in Trinidad and the Caribbean as well as the diaspora living abroad.Diwali Nagar is the most significant Indian cultural event of the T&T and possibly in the wider Caribbean and North America. It has set a trend in that now Miami and other places have Diwali Nagars of their own. The festivities usually start one week prior to the annual Divali day holiday and finishes the night before Divali. The Nagar culminates with extensive fireworks show on the final night. Diwali Nagar was born out of a concept enunciated by Hans Hanoomansingh, then President of the National Council of Indian Culture and was organized by a team of dedicated individuals, led by Rampersad Parasram,first chairman of Diwali Nagar.Mr Deokinanan Sharma, current president of NCIC, was chairman for many years At the commencement of Diwali Nagar 2011,that marked its twenty-first anniversary, pioneers of Diwali nagar were honoured.
Concerns regarding abuse of the term Diwali: In light of the celebrations there have been many claims in news papers and in the media regarding corruption within Divali Nagar. Corruption stemming from the illicit use of funds given by government agencies to support the event. For example, there are certain people against Divali Nagar as their use of funds goes into pockets of other businesses that are not inline with Hinduism. The word Divali is claimed to be exposed and abused in the name of profits. Sale of meat, proliferation of selling sex under the name of fixed Divali Queen Pageants[1] etc.. Many ask, what does an event with alcohol, meat and young girls competing over beauty have to do with Divali? Where does the funds go from the sale of these things in the name of Divali? These questions taint the event both in New York, Trinidad and Florida. This of course is nothing new to Hinduism, even in India these things happen on a grander scale. There are even people revolting against the misuse of Hinduism and names of Gods in India, a Swami in India is going around asking folks to remove names of Gods from non Hindu businesses and activities, Seer Hits Road Against Use of Gods' Names[2]. Many Hindus are against this practice as it sends a wrong image to the world what Divali is about.