Wherever in the world they may be, Diwali is an important occasion for Indians. An occasion marked by feasting, festivities and a whole lot of fun. Indian families living in the US have devised their own ways to celebrate the Hindu festival of lights.
It has been nearly three decades since Pradnya and Ashwin Patil migrated to the US. When their children were growing up there were not many Indians around. The couple would therefore make sure to celebrate Diwali in the way they always had — by lighting oil lamps, putting up electric lights and making fabulous traditional sweets at home. "By a happy coincidence, Diwali always falls around the same time as the western holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it fits right into all the festivities. While we would put up lights for Diwali, our neighbours would have their own interpretations of why we are doing so! Also, since we have a son and a daughter we would make it a point to celebrate 'Bhau beej' (on the last day of Diwali celebrations sisters pray for their brothers), Maharashtrian style," recalls Pradnya.
Of course, Diwali at the Patil residence in Acton, Massachusetts, has changed over the years. With the children well into college and living far away from home, Pradnya says that it's a much quieter celebration these days. In fact, this year even the homemade sweets will be just a token, as her mother-in-law — who usually makes them — is in India.
In Asha Dixit's home in Wilmington, Massachusetts, there was a time when Hanukkah candles would double up as Diwali lamps, while the Christmas lights would come out of their boxes a lot earlier to be wrapped around the bushes and the hedges outside. Asha, too, admits that Diwali has changed for her family now. "With the children away at the university, it feels lonesome to see the candles valiantly trying to brighten up the home.
So rather than be home alone we attend a couple of fundraisers that a lot of Indian charities host at this time of year," she reveals. It is the season for giving and a lot of local charities organise events to motivate people to open their cheque books and donate generously to some cause or other. Adds Asha, "At these events one can get an entire table to oneself and so we invite friends and family to join in. It also solves the problem of deciding whose house to meet at."
Like the Patils, when the Inmadars first came to Billerica, Massachusetts, there were few Indians around and "few places where we could get Indian things". That's why they eagerly looked forward to the festive season when the select Indian stores would keep stuff that they had been used to buying back home. "The food we liked and our traditional clothes would be available then. The few Indian families would get together and celebrate. Now I think Diwali has also fallen prey to the modern times. Instead of an exclusive Diwali party, local associations organise a 'Holiday Party', a more inclusive celebration for everyone," says Manju Inmadar. Many children also find it inconvenient to wake up early on weekends as they feel they have just a couple days at home to catch up on some long overdue sleep. Sighs Manju, "Diwali may be losing some of its sheen, but we do try to keep up some of the traditions."
Clearly, adapting Diwali to suit a more western lifestyle seems to be the general trend today. Medha and Mahesh Ganmukhi in Carlisle have tried to make this change a little more meaningful. The Ganmukhis have been in the US for three decades. Initially, they celebrated Diwali as they would have in India. Getting up early in the morning, having a luxurious oil bath and all the other rituals that are associated with a traditional Diwali, including making the typical Maharashtrian sweet, farhaal and other eats, was the norm. But, over time, as the extended family grew, in order to be able to meet everyone they "just co-opted Thanksgiving as a sort of Diwali weekend. It was a guaranteed holiday and everyone could make it from different parts of the country," says Medha.
A couple of years ago, Medha's daughter, Swati, married an American who knew nothing about Diwali and its significance. "I figured it was an opportunity for me to create a family tradition. Now during the Diwali weekend, we all meet at my house. We have a party with Indian food, I put up the diyas and make the farhaal. I also invite some of my American friends and since this does not clash with their traditional family holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, everyone enjoys this quieter and more intimate celebration," she elaborates. They even get some phool jharis, or sparklers, in keeping with the spirit of Diwali "although we cannot do any real crackers".
Whereas the sweets, lights and clothes can be sourced easily now, it's the crackers that most NRI families miss. Prajakta and Prasad Kale are disappointed that their children, Neerja, 3, and Sohum, just a few months old, "will not celebrate Diwali the way we did as kids". Prajakta makes the traditional snacks and sweets, such as chakli, chivda, gujiyas and laddoos; and she lights up the diyas. They also meet up with other families who have young children and want to show them what a traditional Diwali is all about.
When it comes to festivities, it's a balancing act for the Indian community in the US. Shyla Srinath, a practicing doctor in Boston, puts it this way, "Twenty years ago, one had to try harder to keep in touch with fellow Indians and what one felt was 'our culture'. It is all about choice now and one can do as much or as little as one pleases. There are more places from where one can get Indian stuff, we have more temples than ever before and our children can learn much more about Indian languages and culture than they could earlier. Similarly, one can choose how and how much to celebrate, too. One can visit Indian families; there are now homes where you will see a more elaborate rangoli pattern than you would find in most South Indian homes in India; or you can just opt to give to a charity of your choice while dining with other Indian friends on Diwali."
Different strokes for different folks, but behind the celebrations there can be no denying the Diwali spirit: It's all about giving and mingling with one's loved ones.
WFS
It has been nearly three decades since Pradnya and Ashwin Patil migrated to the US. When their children were growing up there were not many Indians around. The couple would therefore make sure to celebrate Diwali in the way they always had — by lighting oil lamps, putting up electric lights and making fabulous traditional sweets at home. "By a happy coincidence, Diwali always falls around the same time as the western holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it fits right into all the festivities. While we would put up lights for Diwali, our neighbours would have their own interpretations of why we are doing so! Also, since we have a son and a daughter we would make it a point to celebrate 'Bhau beej' (on the last day of Diwali celebrations sisters pray for their brothers), Maharashtrian style," recalls Pradnya.
Of course, Diwali at the Patil residence in Acton, Massachusetts, has changed over the years. With the children well into college and living far away from home, Pradnya says that it's a much quieter celebration these days. In fact, this year even the homemade sweets will be just a token, as her mother-in-law — who usually makes them — is in India.
In Asha Dixit's home in Wilmington, Massachusetts, there was a time when Hanukkah candles would double up as Diwali lamps, while the Christmas lights would come out of their boxes a lot earlier to be wrapped around the bushes and the hedges outside. Asha, too, admits that Diwali has changed for her family now. "With the children away at the university, it feels lonesome to see the candles valiantly trying to brighten up the home.
So rather than be home alone we attend a couple of fundraisers that a lot of Indian charities host at this time of year," she reveals. It is the season for giving and a lot of local charities organise events to motivate people to open their cheque books and donate generously to some cause or other. Adds Asha, "At these events one can get an entire table to oneself and so we invite friends and family to join in. It also solves the problem of deciding whose house to meet at."
Like the Patils, when the Inmadars first came to Billerica, Massachusetts, there were few Indians around and "few places where we could get Indian things". That's why they eagerly looked forward to the festive season when the select Indian stores would keep stuff that they had been used to buying back home. "The food we liked and our traditional clothes would be available then. The few Indian families would get together and celebrate. Now I think Diwali has also fallen prey to the modern times. Instead of an exclusive Diwali party, local associations organise a 'Holiday Party', a more inclusive celebration for everyone," says Manju Inmadar. Many children also find it inconvenient to wake up early on weekends as they feel they have just a couple days at home to catch up on some long overdue sleep. Sighs Manju, "Diwali may be losing some of its sheen, but we do try to keep up some of the traditions."
Clearly, adapting Diwali to suit a more western lifestyle seems to be the general trend today. Medha and Mahesh Ganmukhi in Carlisle have tried to make this change a little more meaningful. The Ganmukhis have been in the US for three decades. Initially, they celebrated Diwali as they would have in India. Getting up early in the morning, having a luxurious oil bath and all the other rituals that are associated with a traditional Diwali, including making the typical Maharashtrian sweet, farhaal and other eats, was the norm. But, over time, as the extended family grew, in order to be able to meet everyone they "just co-opted Thanksgiving as a sort of Diwali weekend. It was a guaranteed holiday and everyone could make it from different parts of the country," says Medha.
A couple of years ago, Medha's daughter, Swati, married an American who knew nothing about Diwali and its significance. "I figured it was an opportunity for me to create a family tradition. Now during the Diwali weekend, we all meet at my house. We have a party with Indian food, I put up the diyas and make the farhaal. I also invite some of my American friends and since this does not clash with their traditional family holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, everyone enjoys this quieter and more intimate celebration," she elaborates. They even get some phool jharis, or sparklers, in keeping with the spirit of Diwali "although we cannot do any real crackers".
Whereas the sweets, lights and clothes can be sourced easily now, it's the crackers that most NRI families miss. Prajakta and Prasad Kale are disappointed that their children, Neerja, 3, and Sohum, just a few months old, "will not celebrate Diwali the way we did as kids". Prajakta makes the traditional snacks and sweets, such as chakli, chivda, gujiyas and laddoos; and she lights up the diyas. They also meet up with other families who have young children and want to show them what a traditional Diwali is all about.
When it comes to festivities, it's a balancing act for the Indian community in the US. Shyla Srinath, a practicing doctor in Boston, puts it this way, "Twenty years ago, one had to try harder to keep in touch with fellow Indians and what one felt was 'our culture'. It is all about choice now and one can do as much or as little as one pleases. There are more places from where one can get Indian stuff, we have more temples than ever before and our children can learn much more about Indian languages and culture than they could earlier. Similarly, one can choose how and how much to celebrate, too. One can visit Indian families; there are now homes where you will see a more elaborate rangoli pattern than you would find in most South Indian homes in India; or you can just opt to give to a charity of your choice while dining with other Indian friends on Diwali."
Different strokes for different folks, but behind the celebrations there can be no denying the Diwali spirit: It's all about giving and mingling with one's loved ones.
WFS