The ancient Indian festival of Diwali has, over the years, become more than just a religious one. With its bright lights and loud firecrackers, it has come to signify everything from new beginnings to a time for thanksgiving, spanning faiths and nationalities. So we went out and asked a few UAE personalities what Diwali means to them and what their favourite memories of the festival are. Here’s what they told us ...
“I have some of my best memories attached with the festival of lights. One Diwali holiday memory shines the brightest when I look back. A couple of years ago, my wife and I visited Trinidad and Tobago for a holiday and we were amazed to know that Diwali festivities are one of the most anticipated events in the Caribbean Island country. The festival day is actually a national holiday, celebrations continue for over a week and they even have a permanent expo site called Diwali Nagar.
Stories of the origin of Diwali are acted out in full costume in open-air theatres and everyone is dressed in traditional Indian costumes. In the evening, thousands of diyas (lamps) are lit in cities like Felicity & St.James in yards, open spaces, staircases, roundabouts and porches. These diyas are placed on bamboo stalks bent into fantastic shapes and designs unlike anything I have ever seen. Pure Bliss.”
Arjun Kumar, associate producer for Bollywood films Welcome Back and Hera Pheri 3.
“Diwali is probably my most favourite festival. It symbolises the win of good over evil and cleansing of one’s homes and souls. In India, it’s done very traditionally in our home. We start the day cooking a whole lot of vegetarian festive dishes as this day is marked as open-house, which means we have visitors pretty much all day long.
At night the whole house is lit with diyas as candles are too modern. We do a puja and sing arti, and then the real action begins with a whole lot of friends and family joining in to burst crackers till the wee hours of the morning with an occasional game of cards thrown in. Diwali in Dubai is more a quieter affair with me and the children going to friends homes to burst crackers.”
Rashmi Kumari Ahmad, creative director and owner of C’est Moi Couture
“Diwali is the most auspicious part of my year where the festival is only complete when it’s celebrated with family and friends. Amongst all of the festivals, this one means the most to me as the spirit of the entire city is lively and everyone comes together to celebrate as one. It’s a festival celebrated by Hindus but truly enjoyed by every Indian.
My favourite memory of Diwali is from my childhood days when all the neighbourhood children would burst crackers and were allowed to stay out till late in the night. Over the course of time, I came to realise the down side of it and put an end to bursting crackers, but my festive spirit and the true light of Diwali will always shine. My definition of Diwali is quality time with my family and today I am counting days until I can re unite with my family in India soon.”
Varoin Marwah, menswear designer
“As an Indian, Diwali means a lot to me. For me it’s about new clothes, lots of food, lots of lights and being around family and friends I love. My favourite memory would be of my childhood when my father used to buy this firework which needed assistance from elders. We would all go to our terrace with all our neighbours and light it as if some Hollywood star was going to make an appearance. The anticipation was mindblowing. As I grew older and got married, it is still one of my favourite festivals and I always look forward to it like I am looking forward to this Diwali.”
Panchali Gupta Babber, fashion stylist
“Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil, truth over falsehood, and of light over darkness. For me, it is the festival that brings together family and friends from across the globe to begin the New Year with love, laughter and plenty of food! The festival truly embodies the sentiment of togetherness. My fondest memory of the festival was the excitement we had as children to crack open our boxes of fireworks after school and causing havoc to the peace of everyone around. It was and will always a magical time for me.”
Shyam Savani, business development manager
“Diwali has always meant a new beginning for me and my family. Every year my mother cooks up a feast and the whole family gathers to exchange gifts, devour the food and burst some crackers in the garden. There’s always an open-house policy where friends pour in through out the day with boxes of delicious Indian sweets in hand.
My favourite memories of Diwali all date back to the times spent with my grandmother back in Chennai, South India, as a kid, where my siblings and I would wake up early, dress up in traditional Indian wear, light some diyas, say a prayer and then sing together. There’s something so beautiful about the entire home lit with candles and filled with the heady scent of incense. Diwali will always have a sense of divinity for me.”
Gaya, singer-songwriter and multidisciplinary artist
“Diwali used to be firecrackers and card parties. Over time, the family has spread out, so Diwali becomes the time we all get together. Everyone makes the effort to congregate at one place even if it’s just two days. The most memorable one would be when everybody had to stop partying and roam the area looking for an uncle who suddenly went missing. We were about to file a missing person complaint, when he was found in a neighbouring building at a party whose host was not known to him. He was being the life of the party when we found him, his flamboyance will always be remembered.”
Jaggu, presents Wake Up With Jaggu and Tarana on Josh 97.8
“Diwali for me means family, giggling with my sister as mother tries to remember all the words of the aarti (prayer) and starts mumbling instead; stressing out my sister by inviting six random foreigners to try her home-cooked Diwali dinner last minute; leftovers being packed for 15 people post the dinner; singing cheesy Bollywood songs on karaoke till 3am; losing money at the card table ... to my mother; burning my new Diwali outfit lighting diyas around the house; and stealing mom’s new sari to wear instead. Lots of sweets, lots of friends. And this happens every year. Happy Diwali indeed!”
Tarana, presents Wake Up With Jaggu and Tarana on Josh 97.8
“Diwali for most people is the festival of lights, but for me, right from my childhood, it was never about the lights, the new clothes, the crackers, not even the holidays. For me, it has always been about the delicacies that surround the festival.
The laddoos, the gujias, the kachoris, the mathris, chivda, shakkarparas and so many more mouth-watering dishes that were prepared by (mostly) women who were relatives, friends, neighbours and sometimes even total strangers who collected at my place. And that’s where the party began. With time (or rather the lack of it these days) this tradition is slowly dying and we are happy to just pick up gift boxes to take to the homes of friends and family. It’s taking away the personal touch from things and I wish we could go back to those simple ways and celebrate by simply coming together and bonding over great home-cooked delicacies!”
Gaurav Tandon, TV personality and food critic
“Diwali is one of my favourite festivals of the year after Christmas. The lights, colours and happiness all around bring positivity and a smile on my face and I let go of all the negativity. Diwali brings back sparkling memories from childhood when the whole family would get together to spend quality time and enjoy delicious sweets. My favourite memory is our annual family dinner at our mammu’s (grandmother) house where the entire family would get together and celebrate bursting crackers until late evening. I love bursting crackers with all my cousins and friends.”
Priya Jelly, founder and marketing manager of Maison Des Fleurs
