Celebrating DIWALI in YOUR style!!!

Countdown to Diwali has already begun and we are so excited about it. And we know you are as excited. But this time we asked our dear friends on Girls Buzz to pitch in their thoughts on Diwali celebrations. How they celebrate it, why this time they look forward to celebrate it even more, etc. We got a fantastic response on the FORUM post we created specially for asking everyone 'How is Diwali celebrated at your home?'. We got some sweet responses over Email too. And we got a glimpse into the joyous celebration our friends indulge in at their homes. Our amazing friends here have penned down something really personal to them and we are really excited to share it with our other friends. Here is what our readers told us about Diwali celebration at their home!

Source: Giphy

Here's what Natasha aka Natsi04 said "The Diwali celebration in my house begins with Dhanteras. On this day, we usually buy a few silver coins as it signifies good luck. This is also the day when we decorate our house for the rest of the festivities. We also prepare the sweets and gifts we intend giving friends, and family.

On Diwali day, my family and I usually go out for a meal (lunch). We’re all dressed in our best attires to usher in the festival of lamps. We conclude by having some mouth-watering snacks and playing cards till the wee hours of the morning. However, this year, Diwali might be different as my fiancé and I both celebrate our birthdays too.

Happy Diwali to each one of you! Love & Light…"

A beautiful response from Srija Gupta in Bengali language just illuminated our hearts, she says "দীপাবলি - আলোর উৎসব, প্রাণের উৎসব

আলোকিত জীবনের উৎসব এই দীপাবলি। এইদিন সেই আদ্যিকালের পুরনো টুনি লাইট বের করে পরিষ্কার করা হয় আলমারি থেকে, প্রদীপের সলতে পাকানো হয়, ব্যাগভর্তি ফুলঝুরি, রংমশাল, আতসবাজিদের রোদে দেওয়া হয়। বিকেল হলেই পুরো বাড়ির জানলায়, ছাদে মোমবাতি বসানো হয় যেগুলো সন্ধ্যে নামলেই জ্বালিয়ে ফেলা হয় সারি দিয়ে। তারপর বন্ধু-বান্ধব বা পুরো পরিবার মিলে একসাথে কালীপুজোর ঠাকুর দেখতে বেড়োনো হয়, আড্ডা চলে মাঝরাত পর্যন্ত। তারসাথে জমিয়ে খাওয়া-দাওয়া তো রয়েইছে, নারকেল নাড়ু থেকে মাটন কষা সব থাকে সেই লিস্টে! দীপাবলির সেই হলুদ মায়াবী আলোতে পুরো বাড়ি মায়াবী হয়ে ওঠে। প্রতিবছর এই আলোর উৎসবে সবাইকে আপন করে নিতে ইচ্ছে হয়।"

Source: Giphy

Another response from Nandini is, "For me, Diwali is my favorite festival since I can cook a lot of sweet desserts and decorate my house to make it more cozy, earm and beautoful. But prominently, I love this festival since I would be preparing a variety of desserts at home. Desserts prepared at home create a different and highly positive environment. The kitchen smells so good and it doubles the festivity vibes. What could be more special than cooking preparing desserts at home? The homemade desserts are so delicious and when they are gifted to relatives and friends, it makes them feel special as well. I wish a happy Diwali to you."

Baani's cute response is something we all relate with. She says, "The day commences with ma dropping dollops of piping hot halwa into my mouth while still asleep. I wake with the last mouthful and spend the morning helping her make handcrafted embellishment and decorating the entire house with it. The afternoon passes like any other except for the 2-3 hours spent enlivening the block with a rangoli (which the neighbours kindly adjudge to be more beautiful than previous year's). The evening brings with it the promise of getting together with familiar faces, exchanging pleasantries and sweets, and merrily making memories for a lifetime.

Happy Diwali to you & yours! ✨"

Dimpy Ajwani was really kind to share a beautiful picture with us:

In her words "The bright and beautiful festival of Diwali begins at our home with all the cleaning activities 😁Diwali is considered very auspicious and the festival where Goddess Laxmi visits our home. Therefore, a big cleaning program is organized. Each and every corner of the home is neatly cleaned and then decorated. From the day of Dhanteras we do Rangoli and light diyas for the following 5 days in a row. I make 5 different Rangoli every Diwali for my home. Vibrant and Big. Our home is all lights and festive throughout the 5 days and I love this the most about the festival of Diwali. On the day of Kalichowdas some traditional rituals are performed to protect our family and home from evil energies/eyes/power. On the day of Diwali we do a grand Laxmi Pooja. It is more like a ceremony than a Pooja with thorough rituals. Here is a little glance of the Pooja set up for you all. We all dress up perform the pooja and then greet elders. It is a scrumptious dinner obviously followed by sweets and then little bit of fire crackers we enjoy. On the day of new year, all the friends and family come over and it is lovely family time and get together for all with delicious delicacies and more. Bhaidooj we are invited to my Aunt’s (Bua) place for a meal. This is my Diwali every year. Happy Diwali to all of you 🙏"

Source: Giphy

Nisha aka nikubhanwal shared her beautiful story in Hindi, she says "दीपावली दीपों का त्योहार, बचपन में इस त्योहार का मतलब बस बम पटाखे और मिठाई खाना होता था। लेकिन वो कहते हैं, उम्र के साथ चीजों की समझ बढ़ने लग जाती है। पिछले कई सालों से घर की दीवाली याद आती है। और जब कोई पूछता है कि घर कब जाओगे तो कहते हैं दीवाली पर। दूसरे शहर से ही नए कपड़े, घर में सजाने का नया सामान और घर पहुंचकर मां के साथ घर की सफाई में हाथ बंटाना। इन सबमें दीवाली कब आ जाती है, पता ही नहीं चलता। दीवाली की सबसे खास बात को ये है कि ऑनलाइन सेल का साथ अपना फैशन हम कभी नहीं पीछे छोड़ते, इस त्योहार पर नए कपड़ों के साथ-साथ कुछ नया गैजेट हमारी लिस्ट में ज़रूर रहता है। कहने को भारतीय परंपरा में त्योहार को कई हैं, लेकिन दीवाली की बात ही अलग है।

Happy and safe Diwali to all of you 🙏"

We got an amazing story from Aneeta too in Marathi, she says, "दिवाळी म्हणजे आनंद,उत्साह,दिव्यांचा झगमगाट,प्रियजनांची संगत आणि फराळाची पंगत, फटाक्याची एक वात आणि सगळीकडे आनंदाची बरसात. आमच्या घरची दिवाळी म्हणजे टीपीकल कोकणातली दिवाळी.आम्ही आकाशकंदिल घरीच बनवतो.दिवाळीच्या दोन दिवस आधी साहित्य आणायचे आणि कंदिल तयार करायचे. चमचमणाऱ्या लाईटचं तोरण असलं तरी आंब्याची पानं आणि झेंडुची फुले त्यात मधोमध भाताची ओंबी लावून आई छान तोरण तयार करते. फक्त दरवाजेच नाही तर खिडक्यांनासुद्धा तोरण लावलं जातं.दिवाळीच्या पहिल्या दिवशी म्हणजे धनत्रयोदशीला आम्ही किल्ला बनवतो.आता मुंबईच्या घरी जागा कमी असते पण छोटासा किल्ला बनवताना आमची बच्चे कंपनी जो काही उत्साह दाखवते तो शब्दात वर्णन करणं कठीण आहे.आई धनतेरसला सगळ्यांना कडुलिंबाची पानं आणि खडीसाखर एकत्र करून प्रसाद देत.त्यामुळे व्याधी दूर होतात अशी धारणा आहे.संध्याकाळी छान रांगोळी काढायची आणि पणती लावायची. दुसरा दिवस म्हणजे नरकचतुर्दशीचा, भल्या पहाटे उठून उटणं आणि तेलानं मालीश करून अभ्यंग स्नान करणे आणि दरवाज्यासमोर कारीट फोडण. आईची पुजा झालेली असे मग काय फराळावर ताव मारायचा. कोकणात दिवाळीमध्ये गोडाचे पोहे करतात. पोहे आधी भिजवून घ्यायचे त्यात गुळ, खोबरं आणि वेलची घालायची. या इन्स्टंट पोह्यांची मजा काही औरच असते.मग संध्याकाळी फटाकेबाजी,एकमेकांना शुभेच्छा देणं,सगळी धमाल,मस्ती आणि आनंद. लक्ष्मी पूजनाच्या दिवशी पूजनानंतर साळी,लाह्या आणि बतासे वाटायचे. पाडव्याला नवऱ्याला ओवाळून एखादं छानसं गिफ्ट घ्यायचं आणि भाऊबीजेला भावाकडून हक्काचं गिफ्ट ठरलेलं असतंच.दिवाळीमधील मला आवडलेली गोष्ट म्हणजे दिव्यांचा प्रकाश, घराघरात आनंद, पाहुण्यांची रेलचेल, खमंग फराळ आणि फटाक्यांची आतषबाजी, तुम्हा सगळ्यांना दिवाळीच्या शुभेच्छा !!"

Ved also got some really nice words to share, "Diwali is a festival of light and one of my favourite festivals as well. Because, it cherishes the very thought of victory of lightness over darkness. Like every other family, even my family celebrates this festival with complete enthusiasm, with full of emotions, and with great devotion. We as a family try to clean each and every corner of our home so that on the festival day every corner should be lit with candles and lamps as well as with flowers and lighting. Most importantly the complete united family adds cherry on the cake and actually gives life to this preparation."

Tejasvinidandgawal also shared some beautiful pics with us:

She says, "दिवाळीचा सण माझ्या साठी नुसता एकत्र येणे असा कधीच नसतो. प्रत्येक दिवाळी ही काहीतरी स्पेशल असतेच. कधी आनंदाने भरलेली... कधी नव्या व्यक्तीच्या चाहुलाची..तर कधी यशाची गुरुकिल्ली घेऊन आलेली. सणाचा गोडवा हा मनातून निर्माण होतो. परिवार त्यांचं प्रेम खूप भरभरून पहायला मिळत. खवय्यांाठी तर नुसती चंगळच.  ऑनलाईन शॉपिंग पासून ते गावातील बाजार, इथपर्यंत न संपणाऱ्या गोष्टी घेण्याची आतुरता म्हणजे दिवाळी. प्रत्येकाला भेटणं, फराळाचा आस्वाद घेणं, भेटवस्तूंचा वर्षाव करत दिवाळीचा सण खऱ्या अर्थाने साजरा करणं. गोड आठवणींचा हा ठेवा जपत पुढच्या दिवाळीची चाहूल मनी जपत पुन्हा नव्याने आपल्या कामाला ,दैनंदिन जीवनात रुजू होणे."

Nikkitha K J says, "Diwali, or Deepavali as we call it, has always meant celebrations to me. As a kid I would wait for Deepavali because it was during these festivities that my mom would let me have as many Mysore Paks as I wanted. Nothing has changed even now. You never grow old for sweets, you only get Diabetes! The sweets, the food, new clothes, meeting people, the endless Deepavali cleaning and decorations make this festival so dear to my heart. 

Deepavali instills a sense of security in me. It reminds me year after year that no matter how hard the circumstances might seem, there's always a way out and good always wins over evil in due time. There's a sense of enlightenment Deepavali brings along. Probably that's why Deepavali is the festival of lights!"

For Jyoti Das, "Diwali is all about love and remembrance of ancestors. We begin the Diwali celebrations by the massive cleaning of the house, clearing our home of dirt as there’s a preconceived notion that Maa Lakshmi resides only in clean homes. Then, we make many mithais such as Karanji, Kala Jamun, etc. From buying something new on Dhanteras to visiting relatives’ houses for feasts, Diwali has always been a special occasion for me. On the night of Diwali, along with bursting crackers, the main attraction of Diwali, we also light a bunch of special sticks called kaunria sticks to call our ancestors to come and bless us. The stick is burned from the flame of the Diwali Diya and then aiming towards the sky; we chant a verse “Badabadua ho and­haara re aasa aalua re jaa, mahaprasad Khai baaisi pahaacha re gada gadutha.” The merry, fun, and uncountable childhood memories of Diwali are something that I can never forget."

Ananya Malik believes, "Diyas on doorsteps and verandahs; fairy lights on the windows, a giant lantern hanging atop the door is what instantly comes to mind when I hear Diwali. The unique smell of mustard oil coalescing with that of scented candles along with the burning smell and loud noises of crackers dawns a bit later, well after the delicious sweets and dry fruits arranged in a beautiful hamper calling on to my taste glands.

This is my Diwali. Beautiful ghagras and rangolis, mithais and diyas, laughter and firecrackers!"

Source: Giphy 

Awditi Dey's favourite festival is Diwali, according to her, "Diwali has been my favourite festival for as long as I remember. The fairy lights, the ghee-wale diyas, the smell of sweets and a night sky filled only with bright lights. The auspicious shopping for steel utensils and tiny sculptures of Lakshmi, Ganesh and Kuber marks the onset of the festival. Rangoli/Alpana with fairy lights over our balconies and doors fills my heart with joy. Then comes the ceremonial Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, the prasad of layi, khoi and gatte, decoration of toy mud houses painted with watercolours marks the Diwali celebration in my town and home. Burning the firecrackers all evening and going to bed with some random kid bursting bombs all night long is my picture of a perfect Diwali celebration."

Zyana believes, "All of us must have heard- “two is better than one?” That's Diwali for me. In my village, there's this old story that the King of our area won a battle a day before Diwali, and to celebrate his victory everyone celebrated Diwali a day before. Since then, our town has celebrated Diwali twice. On the first day to celebrate the victory, and on the second day, we worship Lord Ganesh and Maa Lakshmi. 

This passed down tradition is now a major part of my Diwali celebration, and for a foodie, what's better than a double dose of delicious sweets?"

According to Monisha, "For me, Diwali is a festival of love and lights, a celebration of good triumphing over evil. A festival that gives insight on our inner  selves.

The classic Diwali celebration for me is all about a lot of sweets, gorgeous lights, and lots of diyas to decorate the house. We spent the entire 4 - 5 day festival with family,  cooking delicious foods, cleaning the house, and  going for Diwali shopping.  We go out in the evening to greet neighbours,  enjoy lights, and view magnificent fireworks.

May, this Diwali brings back all the beautiful memories of our childhood and Diwali's light purify ourselves of all our evil desires and  thoughts."

And last but not the least is Kristima, who says, "Diwali has always been my favorite festival of the year. The lights, the colors, the cheerfulness, the entire family coming together to celebrate the age-old concept of good winning over evil—all the memories are endearing, and I am too fond of those. In my house, the preparations used to begin a month in advance, with Durga Puja through Diwali being nothing short of a gigantic celebration of sorts every day. Diwali has always been all about good food, an excuse for shopping, exchanging gifts with friends, and of course, the beautiful fireworks we see in the night sky. The Rangoli, the diyas, the veneration of our Gods, and the eventual photo sessions are what I call a perfect end to a year and a beginning of a new one!"