How do NRI’s celebrate Diwali?

While Indians living outside India say there is nothing like celebrating Diwali in India, Indians worldwide celebrate Diwali with fanfare regardless of where in the world they live!

Indians living outside of India are known Non-Resident Indians, or NRIs. Indians are admired world wide by many for being able to adapt to their host country while maintaining strong ties to their native culture through speaking in their native language and passing down their culture and traditions to their children born outside of India, thus maintaining their roots and celebrating the festivities of Diwali fun, joy, energy and enthusiasm irrespective of where in the world they live. Follow Spotlife Asia for the latest news and updates.

A large part of passing on traditions is celebrating holidays. When living in another country, the schedule of holidays is totally different, and hence it may not always be possible to have a day off from work or school on the actual festival days. When those holidays fall on working days in the host country, an observance or a special meal may be cooked. Larger gatherings and celebrations will occur on non-working days and weekends before and after the actual holiday (unless the holiday happens to fall on a weekend).

The meaning of Diwali is not lost in translation; it is lost over time and over physical distance of countries far away from India. Unlike in India, there may not be any bazaars displaying the fire crackers, or an abundance of fresh sweets and streets filled with people dressed in colorful outfits, however Diwali is still celebrated to the fullest in many different ways.

Here are some ways Diwali is celebrated by NRI’s away from India.

1. Cook a big traditional meal and invite friends over
2. Have a pot-luck dinner (each invitee brings a cooked dish and shares it)
3. Have a Diwali party – dancing, socializing, and maybe even, drinking!
4. Burst crackers (fireworks). This can be done only in state where it’s legal for individuals to buy and set off fireworks.
5. Hold a cultural program.
   NRIs living in communities with many Indians may be a member of a pan Indian group or a regional Indian group (Gujarati, Malayalee, Tamil, etc.). These groups often plan a cultural program followed by a dinner for major Indian holidays. People prepare months in advance for dances (such as Thiruvathirakali for Onam), skits, re-enactments, singing songs and other cultural program numbers. Some may even bring costumes, props and décor from India months or a year in advance for these events.
6. Have a rangoli / kolum competition.
7. Go to the Hindu temple.
8. Hold a puja at home, and maybe invite other Indians who live nearby. These pujas often turn into potluck parties, where the food served was given during the puja from each family as prasadam.
9. Bring new clothes from India months or a year ahead of time and wear it on Diwali.
10. Arrange a Diwali party along with a little talk on the importance of Diwali for one’s officemates or classmates in school or college.
11. Hand make clay diyas with friends and light diyas or fix lights to the house for bringing out a Diwali mood.
12. While some may say this one doesn’t count, some may board flights to visit their family in India during this auspicious time.

Diwali also enables non-Indians to focus on and recognize Indians throughout the world on a specific day. Although presidents and prime ministers around the world have been congratulating Christians and Muslims and holding Christmas and Eid al-Adha functions for many years, it was only recently that the emergence of Diwali as the major Indian celebration has allowed for a similar focus on a day for Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. It was only in 2009 that a president of the United States, Barack Obama, began hosting Diwali celebrations in the White House and most recently the USPS issuing an official “Diwali Stamp” – see our report on the Diwali Stamp

Whether you are an Indian living in India or abroad, celebrate Diwali with your families to bring joy and happiness among each other.

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