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our capital city Delhi
- I grew up with my
cousins. We enacted
Ramayana and had
long rehearsals
before we put on a
show on a stage that
we built illustriously
(with the help of many
domestic workers).
It was our private
company - led by us
– the kids of Shyam
Nivas (the name of
our house). We sold
and are decorated in bright colors. On this
auspicious occasion people pray for prosperity tickets, played many characters, and ended
and humbly seek the blessings of Goddess with applause and compliments from parents
Lakshmi, known to be the Goddess of wealth. and relatives. It was so satisfying almost as
Additionally, people cook traditional food and much as the gunjia and the mathari (savories)
sweets filled with flavor, bringing about deep and the chum chum that I ravenously ate
satisfaction of taste. during Diwali.
On the day of Diwali, families buy new clothes
and jewelry. They also decorate their homes We buy crackers and you can hear their
with rangoli. Rangoli is colorful yantras they resounding pitter patter weeks ahead of
make through dry powder colors. Diwali as the sky lights up with rockets
It may be celebrated with different reasoning (crackers). This Festival of Lights truly lights up
in different regions of India. This explanation the homes’ exterior and interior as well. And
is well captured in this direct quote taken from it would be no imagination of mine if I added
National Geographic Kids: that the light further reaches the interior of
our being itself, lighting it up with feeling of
love and respect for all. Undoubtedly such
• In northern India, they celebrate the story
of King Rama’s return to Ayodhya after he is the power of the festival that the spirit is
defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lit with hope and anticipation. People use
lamps. this festival as an occasion to declutter their
• Southern India celebrates it as the day homes and I hope that all this cleaning and
that Lord Krishna defeated the demon organizing ends up in detoxifying our hearts
Narakasura. too. Let’s get ready to welcome Lord Rama,
• In western India the festival marks the day Mother Sita, and Brother Laxman to out
that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the homes as they return to Ayodhya after trials
main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the and tribulations. Let us, too, win over our
demon King Bali to rule the nether world. own barriers in a world which needs more
and more light in our hearts.
As an Indian who was raised in Ghaziabad
(Uttar Pradesh) - which is on the outskirts of
DesiPages DFW | November 2021 VOL 33 | 45
