Story of our Family Diwali Celebration in the USA!
After 5 days of a fun-filled Diwali this year, I thought it would be nice to share my family's experience with you. Diwali, which translates to a row of lights, is the main Hindu festival celebrated in autumn. In Maharashtra, where I grew up, it is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm. My love for celebrating is a result of my mom's passion for this holiday, which I mentioned in my last post: rose coconut karanji.
Diwali
Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair - ideologies that are at the core of my family's values.
Like my mom, I prepare for Diwali almost a month in advance. Making the special sweets and savories (also known as faral) used to be a daunting task when I started following mom's recipes. However, over the years as I have learned the techniques of making each delicacy and the process has become much more enjoyable.
Of course, finding time to do it all is always a challenge! There are several take-out nights as I am busy making the treats. The end result of seeing my friends and family enjoy the special Diwali treats is very satisfying.
Tips
Here are some of my tips on planning Diwali celebrations:
- Create a list of faral/sweets that you plan to make
- Make your shopping list for ingredients like sugar, butter, all-purpose flour, semolina, flattened rice, nuts, saffron, fresh coconut, etc
- Buy all the ingredients ahead of time which saves last minute hassle of running around
- In addition to the groceries pick up plain as well as the beautifully decorated clay diya and a lantern
- Buy some fresh flowers. I find trader joes usually will have marigolds around October/November
With my ingredients in check, I start with making a fresh batch of homemade ghee using unsalted butter.
School Diwali
The first recipe to conquer is usually Shakkar Para, my children's favorite. When my oldest son was in kindergarten, we started celebrating Diwali in his classroom. We explained the story of Diwali, his classmates painted and decorated clay diyas, and then everyone enjoyed nut-free sugar cookie-like Shankarpali.
This year was very special to me as it was my youngest son's last year in elementary school. It sadly also meant that this was the last year my family would do the classroom celebration. With my son's help, we prepared the treats for his class. We did the Diwali presentation to the class and the children and the teacher had a wonderful time. They loved learning about the festival of lights and they each went home with a pretty diya.
Over the next week, I made the rest of my faral and then moved on to the Diwali decorations. The boys have started to pick up on the tradition and this year they did most of the decorating. Lanterns and lights were put up. The house looked festive and was filled with the aroma of the Diwali treats!
5 days
The first day of Diwali is Dhana Trayodashi. We lit our first Diya on this day and offered whole coriander seeds and jaggery to God. This is an auspicious day for making important purchases, especially metals like gold and silver. I used this day to polish my silverware as I prepared for the Lakshmi Pooja. On this day, breakfast was a feast of faral and a hot cup of tea.
The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi. Devotees wake up and bathe before sunrise while the stars are still visible. We did not manage to wake up that early, but we did start our day by praying together. This was a good day to gather with friends and family and share all of the sweet and savory treats we prepared. Our evening was filled with laughter, a talent show by the children, painting diyas, and an elaborate meal. This year the evening ended with exchanging gifts and lighting up bright sparklers.
The third day and most important day is the Lakshmi Pooja. The day started with customary phone calls to all that are near and dear wishing them a "Happy Diwali". I then set up an elaborate pooja to worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. My younger son was very excited to help me with the rangoli that we made together on the front and back porch. It was a rainy and windy evening, so I did not get to take a photo of his first rangoli, but we will continue this new ritual of making rangolis together.
In the evening, we all dressed up in our new traditional outfits and got ready to perform the pooja. My older son performed the Devi pooja that he learned a few years back at Hindu Heritage Camp.
We offered the Goddess a traditional meal that included delicious Puran Poli. The family then enjoyed an elaborate meal which was followed by lighting sparklers with friends. This has become a tradition in itself for the last few years.
The fourth day is Padwa or Bali Pratipada. It is the first day of 'Kartik' month in the Hindu calendar and marks the start of Hindu financial year. It is a special day for husband and wife. Another day to dress up and enjoy with more friends and family.
This year Padwa also happened to be on Halloween so I got to do Aarti for Clark Kent and Harry potter!
The last day of Diwali is Bhaubeej or Bhaiduj – a celebration of the bond between siblings. On this day I did Aarti for my two boys and prayed for their successful life.
I'm amazed to learn how every state and community in India celebrates with own traditions. What I love is that each one of us celebrates Diwali with the same goal, to spread a little more light, happiness, and peace as symbolized by this Vedic prayer from the Upanishads:
Asato ma sat gamaya | (असतो मा सद्गमय ।)
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya | (तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।)
Mṛtyor ma amṛtam gamaya | (मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।)
Om shanti shanti shantihi || (ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥)
Translation:
From untruth lead us to Truth.
From darkness lead us to Light.
From death lead us to Immortality.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
May the divine light of Diwali bring into your life peace, prosperity, happiness, and good health. Happy Diwali!
Food
Here are some of my favorite recipes for Diwali Celebration:
- Rose coconut karanji
- Saranachi Puri
- Puran Poli
- dum aloo
- carrot halwa
- beet raita
- paneer and vegetable biryani
- rava dhokla
Loretta says
Such a great summation of Diwali. Love the vibrant pictures and what they all resemble. Love your sari too 🙂 The boys seem to be enjoying it all.
Archana says
Thank you Loretta! Yes the boys are really into it.
Hans Susser says
Another first-rate post. Thank you.
I can see from these pic's that you are not only a great food blogger, but also a perfect home maker and a wonderful wife and mother 🙂
God bless you and your family .
Hans
Archana says
Thank you Hans!
Hans Susser says
Credit to whom credit is due 🙂
Ciao
payel says
You are looking stunning and your family too ! Great post ??
Archana says
Thank you Payel!
Aparna deshmukh says
Too good! I feel really very proud of being your sister! Its also very nice that you are trying to spread indian culture world wide! Keep it up! Our good wishes are always with you!
Archana says
Thank you!
Aayushi Manish says
Beautiful you & your family too.
Archana says
Thank you Aayushi!
anyone4curryandotherthings says
Namaskaram Archana - wow, wow, wow!!!! Sorry, but I only had a real chance of reading your article today and I hurry to tell you, this is the absolute best post about Diwali I have come across since I started blogging many years ago! I could give you a big big hug right now 🙂 :). The pictures of your lovely family are so nice - it really shows us, who do not celebrate Diwali like you do, what it is all about - and.......you look gorgious in your red Saree (I am sure your husband thinks so too - 🙂 ) I will keep this post of yours in a special folder to look at it sometimes again.
But for now, thank you so much once again and stay happy and safe. Carina in Kerala
Archana says
Thank you so much Carina! Your kind words made my day. I am so happy you enjoyed reading this post and that it made you so happy! Thank you!!
ashu@ashstylegourmet says
Diwali is a great time of the year, it sure brings so much of happiness. This is such a lovely post and awesome pictures. Loved your sari Archana,
Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year to you all.
Archana says
Thank you Ashu for your kind words. Happy new year to you too!
Sandhya says
Archana,
Love, love, love your pictures and description of Diwali. You have captured the essence of it all!
I just got back from India, so am catching up with missed posts now.
Archana says
Thank you Sandhya! Diwali is my favorite indian festival. Hope you had a great trip to India?
Kiran says
Love your outfits! Traditional is always best
Archana says
Thank you!
Cassandra|Delectatus says
What wonderful traditions!
Archana says
Thank you!
Aschwinnie Mahajan says
Hi Archana ! It is wonderful to see what all you do to let the rest of the world know, specially to new generation who almost know very less about our traditional Indian food and culture, because most of them are busy in American Junk food, cheap quality Indian restaurant food even if they try to cook at they check the recipe on u tube most of which are boring and with less value. I cook myself and celibate with friends and their families or sometime with office colleagues, Vegetarians, Vegan, Ayurvedic food. I live in Berlin, one of my niece of your age lives in New Jersey or New Ark, with her husband and two Boys. I really value what all you do. Keep it up, may Mother Nature keep you in best of your health and energetic . Thanks have a great Dipawali with your family, neighbors and friends.
Archana says
Thank you so much for your kind words and blessings.
Maurice Balk says
You have a beautiful family, home, and food. I am happy for you.