How to Celebrate Diwali: The Festival of Light

Diwali: The Celebration of Light

For one week each year, the earth shines a little brighter as millions of flickering oil-wick lamps light the planet for Diwali, the festival of lights.

Become magically transported through rows of twinkling lamps, highlighting colorful, traditional floor designs and golden rays of light. Imagine entering an aromatic, immaculately clean home with cheerful smiles, laughter and platters of sweetmeats and savories. Imagine a soothing spirit illuminating your soul, sending waves of peace and joy! This is Diwali or Deepavali, literally meaning “a row of lamps.”

For the millions of Indians across the Indian diaspora who celebrate the festival of lights, Diwali marks the commencement of the Hindu New Year, the date determined by the Lunar Hindu Calendar each year. Diwali is typically in October or early November. Meticulous cleaning, painting and decorating the home is a precursor to the festival. Metaphorically, this is a symbol of sweeping away negative thoughts and energies and filling your mind with good and pure thoughts and feelings.

Rangoli, also known as Kolam or Alpana, are geometric sand art patterns created at the main entrance of the house, a sign of welcome, inviting the Hindu goddesses to enter and bless the family. Embroidered door hangings hung above the door and colorful earthen lamps called diyas are lit around and inside the home, on balconies, even roof-tops, symbolizing the lamp of self-awareness and enlightenment, to quell the darkness that resides in our minds.

On the auspicious day, businessmen close their books for the year and start afresh. Women purchase jewelry, silver and new clothes. Gifts, sweets and nuts are exchanged with family members and friends. Communities get together for fireworks displays and sparklers that adults and children light for the whole week.

The Origin of Diwali

The origin of Diwali goes back thousands of years. In the northern parts of India, Diwali signifies the return of the great Lord Rama, subsequent to his defeat of the demon-king Ravana and his crowning as king. This story is from the ancient Sanskrit epic, Ramayana, that was composed by Sage Valmiki. The oral composition dates back to the 8th century B.C.E.

In Western India, Diwali is celebrated to honor Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Today it is followed universally all over India, and marks the most important day of the festival. In Eastern India, Kali is worshiped, the Goddess of Time, a dual natured force, one of a gentle mother, the other a ferocious, destructive form of Shakti or the divine force, manifesting to destroy evil and restore balance. In Southern India, a legend from the epic Ramayana of the killing of the evil demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna culminates in a great celebration that is Diwali. The festival also coincides with the end of the harvest season in India.

How People Celebrate Diwali

Diwali fairs or melas feature many cultural activities for children and adults, such as plays, concerts, acrobats, fortune-tellers, camel, elephant or horse rides. Streets and shops are decorated with dazzling electric lights and colorful lanterns. 

In San Diego, Diwali festivals are held with music and dance performances by adults and children, ceremonial lighting of lamps, rangoli contests, vendor stalls with Indian artifacts, jewelry, books and a plethora of Indian items and snacks to choose from. A food court showcasing varieties of mouth-watering dishes and sweets is generally the highlight of the festival.

Diwali programs may vary quite a bit. People are astounded by the differences in customs and culture between regions in India. To fully comprehend it, one has to look at the 28 states in India almost as separate entities, with their own food, dress, language and religions. By eighth grade, nearly every child in India has mastered at least three languages: Hindi (the national language), the state language where he resides and his mother tongue. In addition, most schools teach English. Incidentally, asking for a specific “curry” can produce a completely dissimilar dish in different parts of India.

Despite all these differences, communities unite joyfully to celebrate festivals such as Diwali with a deep respect and an understanding of each other’s values and traditions, the family being the central unit. The bond between festivals and communities has lasted more than 5,000 years and will continue to be an ode to happiness and tradition.

Celebrate the Festival of Light with Easy Diwali Recipes and Crafts

EASY GULAB JAMUNS (ROSE BALLS IN SYRUP)

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk powder
• 1 cup pancake mix powder
• 1 small carton whipping cream (1 cup)
• Oil for frying

For Syrup

• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups water
• Pinch cardamon crushed (optional)
• Pinch of saffron or a teaspoon of rose water (optional)

Directions

1. Combine sugar and water for the syrup and heat. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes and remove from the heat.
2. Add cardamom powder and saffron or rose water, if desired. Set aside.
   
3. Knead a soft dough with rest of ingredients and let it sit for 5 minutes.
4. Shape into smooth small balls (1/2 inch) and deep fry in oil until evenly dark brown in color.
5. Put it into the hot syrup immediately. The balls will soak the syrup and expand.
6. Serve warm.

VERMICELLI KHEER

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup roasted vermicelli
• 1 teaspoon unsalted butter or ghee
• 4-5 cups milk
• 2-3 cardamom seeds (crushed)
• 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
• A pinch of saffron
• 1 tablespoon raisins (optional)
• 1 cup sugar (add more for sweeter kheer)

Directions

1. Roast vermicelli and almonds in the butter or ghee for 1 minute.
2. Add the milk and bring to a boil. Let it simmer gently for 10 minutes. The milk will thicken a little and the vermicelli will soften.
3. Add the sugar and simmer for another 3 -4 minutes.
4. Add the saffron, cardamom and raisins. Remove from heat and cool. Serve either warm or chilled.

NAMAK PARA (INDIAN PASTRY)

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons softened unsalted butter or ghee
• 3 tablespoons plain yoghurt
• 1 teaspoon ajwain (thymol) seeds
• 1 teaspoon crushed black pepper
• salt to taste
• water to knead dough
• oil to fry

Directions

1. Add yogurt, softened butter, pepper, salt and ajwain seeds to the all-purpose flour.
2. Add water slowly and knead into a medium stiff dough. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then shape the dough into 2-inch balls.
3. Roll it out about the thickness of a tortilla.
4. With a sharp knife, cut them into 1 inch squares or finger-size strips.
5. Heat oil to medium heat. Add the squares or strips and deep fry until golden in color.
6. Serve when cool, with a hot cup of chai.

CEREAL CHIVDA

Ingredients

• 2 cups Kix cereal
• 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 2 cups Corn Flakes cereal
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon cayenne or chili powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• ½ teaspoon citric acid powder
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup curry leaves
• 1 jalapeno or thai chili for more spice, chopped
• ½ cup peanuts or cashews or both
• ½ cup golden raisins
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large pan.
2. Add chilis and curry leaves and fry until leaves get crisp.
3. Add nuts and spices and fry for 15 seconds.
4. Add cereals and raisins and mix well until spices are blended.
5. Let cool and store in an airtight jar. You can use alternate cereals too.
   

Simple Diwali Crafts

RANGOLI OR SAND ART DESIGNS

Download designs at www.diwalifestival.org/rangoli-patterns.html 

Supplies

• A rangoli design (downloadable from the web)
• Colored sand sorted by color in different bowls
• School glue
• Paintbrush
• A white piece of cardstock – the size depends on the size of your design 

Directions

Draw or print a design on the cardstock. Carefully spread glue evenly with the paintbrush on the section you want colored sand on, taking care not to cross lines. Pour some colored sand onto the glue and shake the excess sand off into its respective bowl. Then move to the next area and repeat the same procedure. Be careful not to shake the excess sand on a freshly glued area or the colors will mix. When completed, leave it to dry. Your rangoli is done! You can try traditional rangoli on the floor using chalk to draw a design and filling the colored sand in.

You can also use different lentils, beans or rice instead of colored sand. Another idea is to use colored chalk on sandpaper. It will produce a similar effect as drawing your rangoli on the ground.


CLAY DIYA OR LAMP

Supplies

• Air dry clay
• Sequins
• Paintbrush
• Paint
• Glue

Directions

You can make the diya in two ways. One simple way is to make a long thin snake with the clay. First make a base by winding it around itself. Then when you have about 6-7 circles, start winding the snake on top of the last circle, one round on top of another so it looks like a tea light holder. Let it dry. Paint it and when the paint dries, you can glue sequins or colored crystals to decorate it.

Another way is to shape the clay into an almond-shaped lamp that will fit a tea light. An easy method is shaping the clay over the bottom of a cup or bowl and carefully taking it out so the shape is retained. You can mold the clay into any diya shape you like. Once the clay dries, you can use paint, glitter, crystals or other embellishments. 

You can buy a wick or create one by rolling cotton into a thin snake. You can use any oil in the lamp. Wet both ends of the wick in the oil, dip one end in the oil and then light the other side.

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Geeta Shreedar is a freelance writer who loves celebrating Diwali every year with family and friends.