What comes to your mind when you think of DIWALI?

One of the most popular festivals on the Hindu calendar, Diwali traditionally symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”. Given all that has happened this year, the need for this Diwali to be better, and more festive, has increased exponentially. No one knows this better than our young students and professionals, who have had so much chaos and uncertainty with this year. So, Indus Age decided to find out…what Diwali means to them. Read on..

Special credits: Deepa Damle, Aruna Chandrala, Harish Velji, Gurnam Singh and Sonal Chopra.

Kabir Mathur, 6 years 4 months

I love celebrating Diwali,the festival of lights. Today is a celebration of the good winning over

evil. Every year, I help my Mummy make clay diyas and paint and decorate them. We light them

up at dusk during the Diwali puja. We dress up in our special Indian attires. By evening the

house is abuzz with relatives who join in for the puja. At the puja, Mummy retells the story of

Diwali that my Great grandmother used to narrate. We play some traditional games with ‘kheel

patasha’ and my favourite is the ‘guess whether odd or even’ game with ‘murmura’. I eat the

most kaju katli mithai! There is always a yummy feast at dinner, after which we light some

sparklers in the backyard. I have a wonderful time with my family and cousins. This year will be

extra special as it will be the 1st Diwali celebration with my baby sister, Ananya! Wish you all a

very Happy Diwali!

Triyog Karki, 9 years old, Berowra, Sydney

When I think of Diwali, lights, fireworks, and varieties of food comes in my mind and it makes me feel very happy and joyful. When I think of Diwali, the Laxmi pooja also comes in my mind. Laxmi is goddess of wealth and prosperity. We decorate the house with amazing lights and make footprint to welcome goddess Laxmi in our home. My parents cook Cell roti and lots of other food for pooja. We all family together worship Laxmi. I play Tabala and we chant mantras and sing bhajans,

Another great Diwali memory for me is Bhai Tika, celebrating with my sister Trisha. In this day we brother sister worship each other putting colourful Tika and Mala. I get a big tray of gift from my sister and I also give her a return gift.

Diwali is also known as a festival of lights. It is celebrated to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness. We celebrate as a time of peace, wisdom, and prosperity. I’m so glad that Diwali is around the corner.

We are very excited and have already started to clean the house and garden. We are planning to decorate the house with some amazing solar lights. We are also mindful of social distancing to have a safe and happy Diwali.

I along with my family wish you all a very joyful, safe HAPPY DIWALI !!

Ramkiran Palakkal, a Year 9 student at Hurlstone Agricultural School

My name is Ramkiran Palakkal and I am a year 9 student at Hurlstone Agricultural School, Glenfield.  I was born in Kerala, India and my family migrated to Australia when I was six months old. Born to a South Indian Family from Kerala I have been learning Carnatic music since 3 years and recently started Guitar lessons. I enjoy singing and listening to music both Indian and western, reading, sports and especially Karate, playing cricket and soccer. In 2019 I received Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement- Community Language Schools (Malayalam).

DIWALI!!! Or otherwise known as Deepavali is a festival in the Hindu religion where new beginnings and the triumph over evil is celebrated. This festival coincides with harvest celebrations for farmers and is also a new year’s celebration. The joy of waking up to new clothes and feeling the whole festive vibe of Diwali is something that cannot be expressed with words but must be experienced in order to understand. Even though Diwali is an Indian festivity the effects and joy it radiates is felt all over the world too.

I recall being invited by friends to celebrate and enjoying sweets with them as well enjoying the festivities Diwali had to offer. Having get-togethers with family and friends in the 5 consecutive days was so enjoyable. Burning sprinklers and enjoying good food with family and friends created memorable experiences. Primarily the festivity is associated with the Hindu religion it has the ability to bring so many people together regardless of faith or beliefs. Whilst in primary school in Australia I remember everyone at school exchanging sweets and sharing blessings. I was thankful that even in Australia I had the opportunity to share the Diwali festival with my fellow school colleagues.

Deepavali is known as the festival of lights and usually lasts for 5 days and is celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month. Diwali symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good will over evil and knowledge over ignorance. There are multiple stories to correspond with each part of India. Northern Indians celebrate the story of King Rama’s return to Ayodhya, after defeating Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps. Southern India celebrate it as the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura, but all stories having the lighting of Diya’s (clay lamps) in common. Diwali mean to me is happiness, prosperity and love. For me, these strong values are the Morales many Indians look for and follow in their day to day lives.

As the coronavirus pandemic has been around for months now, it is important to stay safe while we enjoy the celebrations. It will be a small family gathering wearing traditional clothes, home cooked festive food and sweets with enjoying good music.

Parmitha Thiruvengadam, Year 10 Student – Macarthur Girls High School

Diwali- an Indian festival full of celebration, fun, lights, colours and lots of food. This festival is one held very close to my heart as it is a time in the year where I feel the most connected with my cultural identity. It’s a time to kick into my cultural side, be engrossed through the cultural clothing, food and traditions. This day for me is filled with lots of sweets, lights, hand sparklers, games and fun with family and friends as well. This year’s celebration is probably going to be quite different due to COVID restrictions but I am sure that we can figure out a way to celebrate it the best possible way. Decorating our house with lights, drawing henna on each other, making sweets are activities that I will take part in this year with my family. Diwali is one of the most vivid festivals that I celebrate in the year and even though our grand celebrations may not be able to go ahead due to Covid restrictions. I am sure that this year is going to be a blast in terms celebrating like every other year has been for me. 

Vikram Prasad, 11-year-old Year 6 student

Vikram loves travelling, martial arts, gadgets, performing magic tricks and writing poetry. He is excited about Diwali 2020 as it brings happiness along with the entire family having fun and sweets galore. 

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, celebrated by millions around the globe, has been a beacon of light throughout the darkness of this year. With vibrant colours, lights and a great reason to eat sweets, it brings joy to everyone in the household. We look forward to celebrating a year where we have overcome many challenges and remained strong and faithful to the Gods. For centuries, the event has been symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. Similarly, this year it will signify the resilience of the human race against the difficulties presented by this year.

In preparation, we clean and decorate the house, prepare sweets and delicious meals and tell stories of all the legends associated with Diwali. It is a busy, but exciting time of the year that everyone has been anticipating.

We celebrate it by lighting candles and diyas, playing with sparklers, praying to Mata Lakshmi and more. Some of the most valuable aspects of this auspicious occasion is how much time we spend with our families. Sharing a meal and praying together are two things we do together as a family quite often, however, during Diwali, it is so much more special.

Rushil Koratala is currently studying Year 8 at Sydney Boys

Deepavali is one of the most important festivals in the South-Indian calendar, due to what it is celebrated for and what it represents and means to Hindus around the world. Deepavali more commonly known as Naraka Chaturdashi is a one-day festival, that typically occurs between October and November. In the south of India, Deepavali is observed as Krishna’s and Lord Satyabama’s victory over the demon Narakusara. Deepavali is also seen as the closing of accounts for agrarian businesses, resulting in the worship of the goddess Lakshmi in the morning. The traditions associated with Deepavali itself are timeless, with some including people typically taking showers, eating special sweets and savoury dishes, draw rangolis and wear new clothes. The word Deepavali itself is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘rows of lighted lamps’, hence the more common tradition of people typically lighting lamps called diyas fashioned from clay, hot butter and lamp wicks. In my family, at night we all wear traditional clothes, put out diyas and burn crackers. Ultimately, Deepavali symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, lessons extremely important for Hindus around the world. May this Deepavali bring happiness to you and your family, drive away the darkness and get us through these tough times. 

Nimisha Sudhakar, Year 7 at Strathfield girls’ High school

Nimisha, lives in Homebush west. She and her parents originate from the southern part of India. Her hobbies are cricket and dance and she currently play Junior Girls cricket for Bankstown Sports.

Deepavali is my favourite Hindu festival and for everyone. We celebrate Deepavali with all my family members and we invite our near and dear ones.

To my knowledge, Deepavali is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna killed Naragasura a demon and brought happiness to the people. Hence, we celebrate Deepavali to bring joy, happiness to our life.

Traditionally we celebrate Deepavali over two days in our culture and family. We decorate our houses with lights and oil lamps.

We start the celebration the night before the Deepavali Day. My mother and grandmother would start preparing the sweets and savouries about 3 days before Deepavali. We start buying our new dresses a month before. At night, fireworks and crackers are also let off. The bright flames of the fireworks present an exquisite sight in the dark night.

On the Deepavali Day, I get up early in the morning before sun rise and take oil bath. Then we offer prayers to our Hindu deity Goddess Lakshmi. We get blessings from our elders. Following that we share the sweets made and distribute among friends and relatives. People indulge in fun and frolic on the day of Diwali. The festival wears a lovely look. Also, we go to movies with all my family and enjoy watching new south Indian films being released on this special day.

Deepavali in 2020 comes in the month of November and I am waiting for this day to celebrate this great Indian festival.

Ahaan Dani, 9, Year 3

Ahaan is 9 year old and studies in year 3. He is very curious and interested in learning about Indian festivals/ cultural. He loves praying and chanting Hindi shlokas in the morning before going to school.

Diwali is India’s one of the biggest festivals. So big that even most Australians know it!

When I think of Diwali, I think of fire, sparkle, rangoli, delicious Indian food, family, etc. But before everything, I think of lights. After that I think of dancing, and parties, boys wearing kurtas and girls saris.

This year we obviously cannot have big group gatherings because of COVID-19 but we still have various things planned. For example, my sister and I will help my mum make a rangoli, possibly, and we will make our own, as best as we can. We might have some family friends come over and we will probably have some delicious Indian food. Yum! I hope I hope we can call our chacha, chachi, mama, mami, nana, nani, dada and dadi to wish them a Happy Diwali. But I can only find out everything on the day, so we might do much more fun things to celebrate Diwali! Overall I am very excited for this year’s Diwali which falls on November 14, although normally it is in October. Just remember to sing the Happy Diwali song on the day. Happy Diwali to everyone.              

Izna Dani, 8 , Year 2

Izna is 8 year old and studies in year 2. She loves arts and crafts and enjoys to celebrate Indian festivals and help in preparation.

When I think of Diwali, I think of a colourful Rangoli and sparks with fire. I also think of my family and lots of beautiful saris. I think of India and happiness too. I also think of friends and Indian food. Alongwith parties and celebrations I also think of kurtas and lehengas because people wear them. I also think of joyfulness and generosity.

We can’t do big occasion with COVID-19, we still have other things planned, such as making a rangoli with my mum and brother. We might also go to one of our family friend’s house or they will come to our house. I also think that we will call our nana, nani, dada, dadi, mama, mami, chacha, chachi and our cousin. I think I will make some Indian food with my mum and dad and possibly my brother. We are also going to sparkle, with sparkles and wave them around. Just know that this is going to be a great Diwali. I think I will wear a sari and my brother will wear kurta and jeans. I hope everyone will have a happy Diwali.

Rachana Chandrala, working Orthoptist from Sydney

I have lived in five different countries so far and look to live in many more. I believe life has a way of working out so take every hurdle as a learning lesson. I am hoping to help more people through my profession and personally. Fusion foods are my absolute favourite and you will always find me at a pani puri stall.

Diwali, my absolute favourite festival in the Hindu calendar, reminds me of joy, colour and happiness. Growing up overseas, my parents always encouraged us to understand the cultural meaning behind it and invited our non-Indian friends to celebrate. It is always a very joyful day. A day, I felt my Indian life and the western life collided with excitement as I celebrated with family and friends. Every year we would get new clothes, be surrounded by abundance of delicious sweets and find ways to keep the oil lamps lit in the wind. The house is decorated with flowers, filled with lots of chatter and sparklers! It is a time of year that always grounded me and made me proud of my Indian background. The message of good over evil is timeless and I hope we are all reminded of this during these pressing times. 2020 has made us all realise the important things in life and allowed us to spend more time with family so I believe Diwali will be a little more special this year and add some much needed sparkle to our lives.

Netra Halagali, Biomedical Engineering And Project Management student

Outside of work and uni I have a huge passion for sports (soccer, cricket, netball etc). On top of that I love any outdoor activities, whether that be hiking or going to the beach. I also do Indian classical dance (Bharatanatyam) on the weekends and I’ve been learning that for more than 10 years. This is very important for me as it brings out cultural aspects within myself. Spending quality time with my friends and family is something that I truly cherish and I’m very blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people.       |

Deepavali (aka Diwali), ‘the festival of lights’, encapsulates the celebration of good triumphing evil. The significant of Diwali originates from ancient India and signifies Lord Rama’s conquering of the demon-king Ravana. In celebration of Lord Rama’s victory, the people of Ayodhyawelcomed him and the entire capital was decorated, illuminated with lamps (diyas), and firecrackers were set off.  This tradition has carried on for many centuries by various religions world-wide and deems Diwali a celebration for spreading love, joy and success. Family and friends decorate their houses with lights, flowers and rangolis, coming together to enjoy food, music and each other’s company. During Deepavali,Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped, blessing the year ahead. Individuals wear new clothes to invite good fortune and gifts are exchanged.

Wishing you and your families a very safe and happy Deepavali!

Rhea Godse , 14, Year 8

Sensation of Diwali

Touch,

The burning sparklers, like stars in the palm,

The hot wire, brazen in my hands,

The eve of summer, filled with the breeze of calm

Sight,

The glow of fire in the dark, dancing in the suspension of air

The mirror in the sky, blessed in the spirits

Stronger than the shadow, weaker than flare.

Hearing

Chatter echoing through the valley steep,

The loud bang, as the firecrackers are aflame,

The crickets chirping in the grass, laid deep.

Smell,

The burning of the air,

The sweet aroma wafting through the laughs

A festivals’ feast, lined up like roses

Taste,

The familiar sweetness of the treats

The tingle of my tastebuds

A rosy flavour, fills my head with heat.

Adit Potdukhe, 13, Year 7

Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is much awaited festivals in India. Diwali reminds me of lights, fire crackers and special food items like Chivada, Chakali, Shev, Shankarpale, Laddu and many more. While we were in India, we used to travel from Pune to Nagpur for celebrating Diwali with my grandparents and cousins. It was time of the year when our entire family used to be together each year.

This year is our second year in Melbourne away from family. Also due to the current pandemic situation, we have been at home for past several months. I really hope that things would be undercontrol and some restrictions relaxed so that we can celebrate Diwali by having a small party with friends. We plan to clean the house and make some lanterns at decorate our house with lights and candles. We will also make some Faral items and some special festive food for the party. We also plan to get some sparklers and light them at night with all my friends.

Esha Godse, 10, Year 5

With happiness to all sorrow to none,

The festival of lights, Diwali as come.

The streets shine with candles and festive flames

Diwali, with amazing lights to delight.

Aadit Mohite, 13, Year 7

Diwali is a very special festival and has a place in all of our hearts. Every year everyone celebrates Diwali in a special way but this year we are celebrating it differently. Because if all the difficult things happening this year we have all had to adapt to this new environment that we are living in. So, celebrating festivals will involve less people at parties and other important things. This means that this Diwali festival won’t be as exciting as they used to be. I am going to celebrate Diwali in a sensible way without breaking any rules. Although I can’t see friends or family I can use zoom or FaceTime.This also means I get all the treats and tasty foods that my mum makes all to myself, and that Iwould say is the best upside to Diwali this year.    

Mihir Gokhale, 12, Year 6

Diwali is an auspicious and one of the biggest Festivals for us Hindus. It

is celebrated with great joy and happiness all over the world. It is believed that

on this day Lord Rama returned to his people after 14 years of exile during

which he fought and won a battle against the demon king, Ravana. This festival

runs for 4 days in our house, each day is special and amazing. Every day in the

morning we have a festive breakfast with sweets like ladoos, shankarpali, chakali

and kajukatli and in the evening celebrate with friends. We wear new

traditional clothes and receive gifts from family. The most exciting part is

watching the fireworks with my friends. Mum and Dad light up the whole house

with beautiful Dipa lights and a lantern. We worship the Goddess Lakshmi and

seek blessings for prosperity and wealth.

This year, however, I am going to wish my friends and family over the phone or

on video calls due to the pandemic. I will pray to Diwali Goddess for the

pandemic to end soon and spread happiness again all over the world.

Aditya Gupte, 11, Grade 6

2020 has been a unique year and the pandemic has got all of us operating in a different manner. I wonder how this is going to shape the biggest festival of the year – Diwali! 

Symbolising the victory of good over evil, I hope this Diwali brings the joy and prosperity to the planet and gives strength to overcome the after effects of the pandemic. The first day of Diwali marks the arrival of Lord Rama after the victory over Ravana. The citizens of Ayodhya lit millions of “diyas” to welcome and showered them love and blessings. Till date, each one of us follows the tradition by lighting the diyas. My favourite part of Diwali is of course the food – I love the Ladoos, Chaklis and Karanjis. Every evening in Diwali we used to visit our friends and relatives to greet and seek blessings from them. This year will be different but I am sure love and blessings on Zoom Meetings are unique; just like 2020. 

I look forward to the Diwali of 2020 and will celebrate it with my grandparents who coincidentally have extended their stay in Australia – ofcourse due to the pandemic.

Aarush Damle, 13, Year 7

Every year, I look forward to this time of the year. I love the vibe of Diwali…the new clothes, the firecrackers, the mouth-watering snacks, the beautiful lights…but most of all, I love that we visit friends and family. This year has not been very kind to most of humanity. So, I am looking forward to the change…for the better…when we defeat CoVid19 – ‘the evil’. I am hoping that when we light Diwali lamps and diyas this year, it will signal the end of the darkness that has been hovering over us. Happy Diwali everyone !

Aanoushka Damle, 10, Year 5

New clothes, firecrackers and food

Victory over evil by good

Pretty lanterns and lights that are beautiful

Good vibes and wishes by the plentiful

What a wonderful festival this is

Diwali is special, especially for us kids.

Rashi, Master in Social Work student

A former lawyer who has come to Australia in pursuit of higher education: Master’s in Social Work, from the University of Sydney.

Diwali is a festival of lights, that celebrates the return of a Hindu mythological God, Ram, who returned from exile after defeating evil. Since the festival symbolises the victory of good over evil, it deeply maneuvered my belief in attaining social justice, which consequently motivated me to pursue my career as a lawyer and a social worker. For me, Diwali is an emotion that manifests the will to do something special for the people around me. Furthermore, it is a landmark period in all my family members’ calendars, wherein all my siblings fly in from their respective cities to our ancestral home, light candles to overcome the darkness of the moonless night, and celebrate the festivities together, as a family!

Due to the current global pandemic, this year I will be celebrating Diwali in Australia. However, even the norms of social distancing will not be able to corrode my emotions related to Diwali, for the emotions motivating my will to fight for social justice and equity still prevail, for I will again be celebrating it with a family that I chose- my friends, and for I will be lighting the wick of hope in my heart to reunite with my ménage.

Chirag Mudgal, Masters of Information Technology and Information Technology Management student

I’m doing masters of Information Technology and Information technology management from the University of Sydney. It’s been almost 2 years in Australia and I have got a small family of friends away from home. COVID has changed the way of living around. I’ve been missing my home every day but my friends here always cheers me up. There is no work and all the studies are online. Diwali is about to come and I’m already missing those crackers and sweets of home. I’ve planned to do a small get together with my friends for Diwali. As I love cooking, we have planned for a potluck with Indian theme. Australia has controlled COVID brilliantly and I’m very lucky to be in Australia.

Abhiraj Das, Master student at the University of Sydney Business School, Sydney

This is the time of festivities in India, and specially from the part of India from where I belong too.

The festival of Durga puja and Diwali is celebrated in the most grandeur style within a span of a week or two. During this time, happiness and joy surrounds the whole city, it is that time of the year when you get to meet you family and cousins and create memories worth a one whole year.

Due to the current global pandemic, this year I would be celebrating both Durga puja and Diwali in Sydney. Considering all the social distancing norms and NSW government regulations, I would be visiting my uncle and aunts place in Pemulwuy. We have planned a small get together with other Indian families, some Indian food and savouries from Paramatta, game of cards/board games and great time is what is on cards for my Diwali 2020.

Darvin Patel, Master of IT and IT Management student

I am Darvin Patel studying Master of IT and IT Management at University of Sydney. This year it would be my second Diwali away from home here in Sydney. Life in Sydney made me realize the importance of our culture and traditions which I had ignored for so long. Shopping for clothes, bargaining with shopkeepers for sweets, planning long holidays with friends and family, Laxmi puja at home, cleaning the house and decorate it with mesmerising rangoli and lights and ofcourse tons of happy Diwali WhatsApp forwards from long distant relatives! This is what I miss the most. I am from Gujarat and I miss local food our mom’s cook called Fafda and Mathiya during Diwali. No food in the world can make up for the taste of food prepared by mothers. However this time I have plans to prepare it with my friends with the help of my mother via videocall. I am blessed to have Indian friends who makes sure I don’t feel homesick by inviting me to get togethers, watch IPL and try their ‘new’ recipes at their home. I wish you all have an amazing support away from home here and have a memorable Diwali. Spread Love, Spread light, Stay safe.

Anirban Bose, Master in International Business and Business Analytics student

Way back in 2019, during this time I would never have imagined I would be sitting in Australia, building my life the way I wanted to. Hi, I am Anirban Bose and I’m a student at the University of Wollongong pursuing a double master’s degree in international business and Business Analytics. I am a Bengali hailing from the beautiful city of Kolkata in India, and this is my first year of study in Australia. Studying and working abroad and the rough times that the coronavirus pandemic has made us go through has made us unable to go back home, especially during the most festive times we, as Bengalis, can have. Roaming the streets of Kolkata with my camera, feasts with the entire extended family and just the general euphoria of the entire ten-day festival is something I looks forward to every year. However, this year I will be spending the Puja with my extended family here in Australia. This year’s Pujas will be a quiet dinner with authentic home cooked Bengali food, a marathon of our most famous movies and the general “adda” with our loved ones back home. With 2020 changing the outlook of the world, I guess we have to view Durga Puja in a different light as well and just ensure we can recreate the feel of our culture in our home away from home.

(Rashi, Chirag, Abhiraj, Darvin and Anirban are student volunteers of AISECS.)

Do check Indus Age Diwali special editions at:

https://www.indusage.com.au/wp-content/plugins/page-flip-image-gallery/popup.php?book_id=182

https://www.indusage.com.au/wp-content/plugins/page-flip-image-gallery/popup.php?book_id=183