Diwali: The Festival of Lights
By Mansi Tanna
The origin of the world “Diwali” comes from the Sanskrit word “Deepavali.” If you break down the word further, “Deepa” is translated as “light” and “Vali” means “Row,” thus meaning a row of lights. That is exactly what we do…light up our home and heart. The festival lasts five days, the last day being actual Diwali where we celebrate good over evil, and positive beginnings.
Diwali is my favorite time of the year. My mom always had me and my brother help make decorations for the house, which was usually putting diyas (homemade candles) on all the stairs and outside on the porch, cooking sweets for offerings, and my all-time favorite — the fireworks! We were allowed one sparkler pack a night. Aside from the fun, we also celebrated the beginning of a positive start of the year, so we would dress up in our Indian outfits, and go to the temple to share our offerings (fruits and flowers) and chant bajans (devotional songs). This would be the time of the year my parents would clean our temple and wash the Hindu statues with milk and water.
Growing up in America and celebrating Diwali was cool. Although I never celebrated a Diwali in India to compare it to, what we saw from our families back home was priceless. The streets were filled with lights and flowers and painted elephants. It would definitely be a dream to spend a Diwlai in India, but celebrating my culture with people who weren't familiar with this holiday was also pretty exciting. I was the cool kid for a week! Our parents always got new outfits for the week, and at school people always used to ask about the occasion, and after explaining it was basically our Christmas, I always got the response, “So you get gifts TWICE?!” This was always funny in my head because we did in fact get presents twice, but we didn’t celebrate it religiously so it was more so to just be included in the “American Culture” of gift giving...Welcome to being a first generation American!
In our neighborhood, my mom and I used to decorate the driveway with Rangoli, which are flower designs we make out of rice. We used to dye the rice different colors (my favorite part) and then make the design. Traditionally, Rangoli symbolizes good luck and generosity.
As I grew older, it got harder to celebrate Diwali because it isn’t observed in the American culture, which means we still have to go to school and work. I always kept the tradition of cleaning my dorm or apartment, and buying at least one new outfit, but I wish it was more relevant in America. I'm hoping it will be in the years to come. I can’t wait to share this tradition with my kids, and for them to enjoy it as much as I did!
For everyone reading, I hope 2020 will be an awesome celebration for you and your family! That you be blessed with wealth and success always. Let's celebrate this festival by spreading joy and lighting up the world of others.
Have a happy, safely social distanced, and blessed Diwali!
