Overseas sparkles

For Sonu Damani,a techie,who is pursuing higher studies in Virginia Tech and is on vacation in India currently,replicating the magical mood of Diwali during her growing up years in Bhopal in far-off Virginia is just not possible. “The bazaars would be full of earthen diyas,gaily painted in sparkling colours. The house would get a fresh coat of paint and that smell would mingle with the delicious aromas of gujiya and chakli,” says Damani. “Since I was quite creative,making rangoli and imprints of Goddess Lakshmi’s feet everyday on the porch of our house was my assignment for the entire duration of Diwali celebrations,” she adds.

On Dhantheras,reminisces Meeta Tripathi,buying gold and silver coins or jewellery was the most-awaited moment for her. “My father would tell me to buy the best,most unique artifact of noble metal on Dhanteras. And I remember,once I bought a silver agarbatti stand and another year,it was a pair of delicately-crafted scales,” adds Tripathi.

Spiritually a celebration of good over evil,thorough cleaning and repainting of houses is the norm,with the core messages of goodwill,spiritual enlightenment and honouring family ties being celebrated with lights,firecrackers,feasting and gifts. In US,Canada,Japan and Germany,while some Indian families celebrate Diwali in their homes,others plan a trip to the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls,Ontario,Canada,with Diwali,since they often fall on the same dates. Says Mazhar Zaidi,an NRI based in Boston,“A spectacular display of lights,fireworks and entertainment through November and December every year,Niagara’s Festival of Lights is a much-awaited event for many Indians in the US. And irrespective of their religious affiliations,everybody participates in the festival,since it has a strong India ‘connect’.”

In cities which have a substantial South Asian and Indian population,like Cupertino,California,one day each year is set aside for the Festival of Lights. “Music,mini melas,and entertainment programmes characterise celebrations in cities as diverse as Chicago,New York,Phoenix and Minneapolis,” informs Aman Alavi,a pharmacist based in New Mexico. “Most Indians get together under the umbrella of Indian or Hindu organisations and have a gala time,even though away from home,” he adds.

Even in far-off Fiji,a public holiday is observed in Diwali. Moreover,Diwali enables people of different faith and communities to come together and flourish in a spirit of communal harmony.