5 Diwali Snapshots: A Tale of Lights, Life, and Love

Diwali’s flicker shows life’s beauty, love’s warmth, and connecting stories.

In this article, I share my journey of Diwali celebrations, from my childhood to my current life as an adult settled in a foreign country. The traditions and practices I discuss are unique to my family and may differ from others due to India’s rich cultural diversity. Let’s explore this festive journey together.

1. Sparkling Celebration

As a child, our family’s Diwali began with an early morning oil bath using gingelly oil, a tradition essential for its cooling properties. Due to its cost, I was advised to use it minimally. Post-bath, we would wear our new clothes and visit temples.

Visiting the temple was not so much for praying but rather for showing our new dresses to my friends, and my friends did the same, too. Our afternoons were dedicated to feasts, often featuring unique dishes like chicken gravy with rice. In the evenings, while most families prepared snacks at home, we usually bought ours from outside since we received them as complimentary gifts from my dad’s workplace.

The exceptions were the sweet gulab jamun, lovingly prepared by my dad, and savory rasa vada, which we ordered from outside. These dishes were typical for Diwali in our family. My favorite part was the evening fireworks, a time of joy and friendly competition with my neighbors and friends.

2. Festive Adaptation

After I grew up and got married, I spent some time living with my in-laws. The Diwali celebrations were similar to my childhood memories, yet significant differences existed. Given my father-in-law’s vegetarianism, our Diwali lunches mainly featured vegetarian dishes.

My mother-in-law took charge of preparing sweets and snacks, making sure that favorites like gulab jamun and rasa vada were included. Celebrating in this new environment and with neighbors from different communities brought fresh experiences, but the warmth and joy of Diwali remained the same.

3. Cultural Continuity

After I moved abroad, our Diwali celebrations took on new forms. In our community, we began to organize annual Diwali potluck gatherings. We would prepare a diverse range of dishes, offering vegetarian and non-vegetarian options and essential sweets and snacks.

One lovely addition to these celebrations was our evening chai sessions, where we’d gather for tea and snacks. Though smaller in scale compared to my childhood in India, the fireworks were still a source of great joy, particularly for the kids.

4. Simplified Rituals

After COVID, community gatherings ceased, leading us to modify our Diwali celebrations at home. We kept our tradition of waking up early but changed the oil bath. Since gingelly oil is expensive, we used a little olive oil for my son’s bath instead.

Our lunches became exclusively vegetarian, and I prepared sweets and snacks in the evenings, following my mother-in-law’s recipes. We still enjoyed fireworks, though on a smaller scale than those in India.

My son was too young to enjoy the fireworks, but perhaps we’ll have more elaborate ones with our next child in the future. These changes marked a departure from our previous Diwali celebrations, but we’ve gradually adapted, embracing these new traditions within our family.

5. Cultural Revival

After the COVID pandemic subsided and things began normalizing, we resumed visiting temples during Diwali. These temple visits were lively affairs, with many people attending. They also included cultural performances, which was a delightful addition.

Seeing the children engaged in Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance, and performing in Hindu dramas was heartwarming. Watching them embrace and perform our traditions, so far from our native land, felt truly special. These experiences reminded me of how we celebrated with family and friends back home.

To me, Diwali is much more than just a festival of lights; it’s about unity. Whether we’re at large community events or quiet temple visits, each part of Diwali has its unique joy and meaning. No matter where I celebrate, Diwali is a time for coming together, sharing happiness, and keeping our traditions alive.

Your engagement till the end is truly appreciated. Until next time, stay well and keep learning.