Page 18 - Masala Lite Issue 155 November 2023

18 SPILL THE CHAI

Community members reveal how

Diwali customs have changed for
them over the years.

BY AMORNRAT SIDHU
SUMEDHA SEHGAL, 30
Diwali, a truly significant celebration for the Indian diaspora, Designer
and specifically Hindus, needs no introduction. The warm
yellows of the diyas melt into one another to illuminate the dark THEN
– like a subtle, but knowing, sun in the night. The mithais sweeten When we were kids, my grandfather
the tongue and soften the mood. The laughter of friends like would bring home a big bag full of
family, and family like friends, envelop the chaos of the evening. fireworks that I would crack open with
Prayers connect the present to the past, the spiritual to the my brothers. Then, we would head over
tangible. The feasting, the festivities, the fireworks; many of to our neighbours’ houses to play more.
us look back on our childhoods and smile with nostalgia at It was a fun time!

how we celebrated Diwali.
NOW
While Diwali is mostly celebrated by Hindus, where prayers are We still have a Diwali pooja every year at
ceremoniously held, many desi folk of other faiths also indulge home. My mother hosts a Diwali party
in the celebrations, too. For Sikhs, the widely-believed overlap with friends where we wear Indian outfits,
with Bandi Chor Diwas is a reason to rejoice, with gurudwara have Red Catering cater the food, and
visits, family get-togethers and the launching of fireworks. spend time with friends and family. It’s
still a lot of fun! While I do miss playing
However, considering the changing times, how does the with fireworks, I understand that it is
Thai-Indian community celebrate Diwali now? Laws, liberties, also bad for the environment. I think
logistics, rights, and responsibilities – how have they impacted we should think about how to replace
the way we celebrate Diwali? A few Thai-Indians share their this tradition with something equally
views on the topic.
enjoyable.

NEHAL BELLANI, 33 RUCHIKA LUTHRA THAKRAL, 34
Business Development Manager Mum of Two and Insurance Broker

THEN THEN
When we were kids, Diwali was spent Diwali has always been fun because we
differently. We were friends with our get to light so many diyas, get together
neighbours, and all the kids would meet and enjoy ourselves, which is really nice
up to burst firecrackers and celebrate and beautiful. In school, we’d always look
together. With time, our neighbours forward to Diwali because of the holidays
moved, we got older, and fireworks were and special treats. At that time, we burst
banned, so our neighbourly celebrations a lot of firecrackers as well.
just dissipated. Thus, our focus became
more inward with immediate family. NOW
As we understand the importance
NOW of being eco-friendly, we don’t burst
Diwali was always chill and lowkey as many firecrackers like we used to
with my family. The highlight was anymore. We enjoy lighting diyas and
bursting firecrackers, and because we making rangolis.
had neighbours to celebrate with, it was
really the more the merrier. But now, we Today, it’s more about joining in the
mostly stick to the rituals that we’ve celebration and joy of the “Festival of
always done: we adorn ourselves with Lights.” As Sikhs, we don’t follow any
Indian clothes, invite our guru over to traditional prayers or ceremonies as such,
do prayers, eat mithai that we’ve order but I encourage my children to be aware
in, and have a nice dinner. of all festivals and their significance. In
this case, the messages are that good
will always win, there’s always light after
darkness, and we should always keep
hope and stay positive. We also highlight
the significance of Bandi Chor Diwas,
which is more relevant to our family.

MASAL A LITE ISSUE 155 - NOVEMBER 202 3