My family’s Diwali Celebrations: Embracing cross cultural traditions

The Indian festival Diwali is occurring on October 20-21 this year. An ancient festival celebrating light overcoming darkness, it is one of the biggest Hindu festivals.

My mother grew up in India, and this festival was a cornerstone of her childhood. She recalls swimming through the crowd that engulfed the streets, visiting various street food stall with her cousins. They shared warm “cha” or tea from miniature clay cups while admiring the vibrant pandals which are floats depicting different Hindu gods. Seeing marigolds and string lights dangling over the packed streets punctuate this colorful festival.

My Mom established herself here in Oregon and assimilated to western culture, embracing the social norms, food, and holidays. However, as October or November would come around, she would reminisce about her childhood celebrations of Diwali.

A few years ago, she was grappling with homesickness and nostalgia from the many memories and loved ones she had left behind. My dad and I, rather unacquainted with the holiday, decided to throw a makeshift Diwali celebration to honor her traditions and transform this time of year from wistful to joyful.

We invited a few family friends over and adorned our house with string lights and candles. We dressed in traditional Indian outfits and set out a large meal complete with many of my mom’s favorite street food dishes.

All of the family friends we invited were unfamiliar with Diwali and Indian culture in general. Despite this, they danced to the rhythmic music without understanding the lyrics and thoroughly devoured the spice-packed dishes.

Since that dinner, we have annually celebrated Diwali with our family friends. In an act of hospitality, my mom opens our home and invites them to experience her traditions. She labors over home cooked food- chicken, rice, naan, and curry authentically reflective of her childhood. Sporting our Indian attire called “saris” or “lehengas” that typically reside in storage boxes, my mom is able to showcase her heritage

Our Diwali celebration might not be the most orthodox, but regardless, it demonstrates appreciation for my mom’s religion and acknowledgment of her (and my) heritage. She subtly compromised so many aspects of her culture while integrating into the U.S. society, but her commitment to not only celebrating but sharing the festival of Diwali underscores her pride in her roots and facilitates the exchange of cultural awareness. Her willingness to invite others to partake in the festivities cultivates a community while evoking a sense of home.

Anya Kennedy is a 12th grader at Jesuit High School. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, swimming, hiking, and reading. She enjoys working at a preschool, tutoring, and babysitting.