COLUMN: Diwali in Diaspora
From Crackers to Pumpkin Spice
Central Michigan Life's Naina Rajan's house back in India, glowing with strings of lights, radiating festive Diwali vibes.
It’s that time of the year again, Diwali, the festival of lights, sweets and noise complaints from neighbors. But, as an Indian student living in the United States, the experience of celebrating Diwali far from home has been... let’s just say, different.
First off, let’s talk about timing. Back home in India, you know it’s Diwali when your ears start ringing from early morning fireworks. Here? Not a peep. The only thing lighting up the streets are Halloween decorations that are still hanging on for dear life. And trying to explain to my American friends that Diwali is not "Hindu Christmas" has become a tradition of its own.
Finding ingredients for the perfect Diwali sweets also feels like a quest. Walk into a store and ask for ghee, urgh, be prepared for raised eyebrows. I tried to make “gulab-jamun” with ingredients I found at the local grocery store, and let’s just say...they turned out more like sticky donuts with an identity crisis.
The biggest challenge, though, is the dress code. Diwali back home means decked out in saris and kurtas, fashion and function combined. Here? Wearing a Saree in 40-degree weather isn’t exactly practical. But hey, I still flaunted mine like I was walking the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week, while trying not to freeze.
A vibrant display of firecracker, a very important element of Diwali celebration.
Then, there’s the problem of crackers. In India, it’s a no-holds-barred fireworks frenzy. In the U.S.? Fireworks are either illegal or require a government permit. So instead of bursting crackers, we burst into laughter watching firecracker YouTube videos with a cup of chai in hand (pumpkin spice, of course, because when in Rome).
And let’s not forget rangoli! Back home, it’s a masterpiece with intricate designs. Here? It’s an awkward conversation with my roommate about why I’m throwing colored powder on the floor and a frantic rush to vacuum it all up before the landlord swings by for a surprise visit.
The author's family sitting in the porch, with a beautiful rangoli in front, capturing the essence of Diwali at her home in India.
But despite the missing chaos, there’s something magical about celebrating Diwali abroad. It’s gathering friends (even if they can’t pronounce “mithai”) and sharing stories of home. It’s realizing that traditions are less about location and more about the joy of being together even if that togetherness involves explaining what a “diya” is for the hundredth time.
This Diwali may not have the same sounds, smells or fire hazards as back home, but it’s filled with new memories and maybe a little bit of pumpkin spice. And who knows? With enough persistence, I might just convince my friends here that Diwali deserves its own holiday aisle at Target.
A festive tray filled with a variety of colorful Indian sweets (mithai), prepared to celebrate Diwali with guests and family.
