For someone who’s lived in Dubai for more than 36 years, Diwali, the festival of lights, has become much more than just an Indian festival. You only have to step out this weekend and see the festivities enjoyed not just by expatriate Hindus, but all nationalities.
Going as back as the 1970s, when a young UAE was coming into its own, Indians were given not just a warm welcome but also a place to call home. They also brought along their traditions and culture, which were encouraged by the rulers. Today, a newly arrived Indian expatriate will not feel homesick during the festival, which celebrates the return of Ram and Sita from exile in Hindu mythology. Traditional sweets, lamps, the latest in festive wear and jewellery — anything and everything you need to celebrate is available here.
Yet, the spirit of celebration has changed since 1978. While festivities were restricted to families and close friends then, they have now taken a commercial turn, with Diwali sales and specially designed festive menus offered by restaurants of all sizes.
Ahead of the festival on October 23, tabloid! spoke to UAE residents and asked them what the festival means to them.
Dr Nishi Singh, acting chair, Health Sciences Division, Higher Colleges of Technology Dubai Women’s College
Diwali is the most joyous time of the year with memories of a hot summer fading away, autumn setting in and bringing in the warm glow of treasured childhood memories. The smell of polished wood and silver, the appetising smells of goodies being prepared over a week for the feast, rustle of new silks and the glint of jewellery and silver icons purchased to welcome the deity of wealth and prosperity.
The joy of collecting new lamp lights, beautifully adorned candles and the Google search for new Diwali rangoli [traditional decoration] and kolam designs — this is what Diwali means to us, as a family. Like every year, our home will be open to friends and colleagues, who come year after year with their children, nieces and nephews to partake in a very ‘old-world’ celebration of Diwali. Our daughters Daamini and Aashini will be home for Diwali with [my husband] Pankaj and me after many years. And what’s more joyful is that Daamini is all set to introduce her fiance Aman.
Aman Kukreja, business development manager, DLL Emirates Restaurants
Diwali is a new beginning for me. It’s a sort of spiritual cleansing. I look forward to the prayers which rejuvenates and revitalises the soul. And, of course, the food! When I was seven years old, I remember bursting firecrackers with my friends in the streets. A spark from a cracker on the floor flew into my breast pocket which was filled with fireworks and set those alight. My mother came out in a tearing hurry with a bucket of water and drenched me. I don’t think it’s my fondest memory but it’s definitely the funniest. I’m really looking forward to this Diwali because it’s going to be extra special. I will have a whole new family to celebrate with — I’ve just got engaged.
Shiva G. Pagarani, executive director of Yogi Group of Companies
Diwali is the biggest festival in the year for us. The entire family gets together. Work takes a backseat, leaving time for fun with children and fireworks in the safest possible way. Diwali is more about togetherness, something we don’t get time for in our otherwise busy lives, especially in Dubai where life is extra busy. The most important thing for us are the prayers we offer to Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, at office and home. Plus, we get to meet friends at celebratory dinners. It’s going to be a busy month, so I will be a little selfish and take some rest too.
Jyoti Karmali, owner of Jyoti Karmali FZE, a boutique PR and events company
Diwali is always a time for excitement, family, spring cleaning of the house, sparklers, diyas [lights], mithai [sweets], friends, pooja, and the list goes on… My fondest memory of Diwali has to be when my mother was alive and she was visiting my younger sister in Kuwait. I flew out to celebrate Diwali with my family there and it was very memorable. This Diwali, I have decided not to buy any new clothes. But I will definitely visit friends and enjoy the festivities in full glory.
Raj Naveen, a chartered accountant specialising in the media industry, and a singer with Raaga Factory
I was born and raised in a small town in Bhilai in central India, where festivals were the only time for entertainment. We celebrated everything — Durga Puja, Eid, Gurunanak Jayanti, Onam, Christmas... And like all children, I have done my bit of ‘cheap thrills’ such as bursting crackers after midnight when most of the town was asleep. But now I understand noise and smoke pollution, plus I consider it a waste of money. Luckily, my girls [my wife Bindu and daughters Naieka and Jaania] feel the same about it.
Diwali is limited to lighting diyas [lamps] and distributing sweets. Last year, I spent some time with blue-collared workers along with my elder daughter, Naieka, who assisted in teaching English to them at Smart Life (smartlifefoundation.org). This year, I plan to visit the SOS Animal Rescue in Umm Al Quwain with my younger daughter, Jaania, who is an animal lover.
Anita Shah, CEO and managing director, Ccreanss Communication
Diwali keeps us in touch with our culture and unites the family in shopping, gifts and, most of all, in inviting Laxmi, the deity of prosperity and wealth, home to bless us with love, abundance and take away all negativity. As a child, I would trouble my mother to allow me to make sweets. She would shoo me away since I ate so many while she attempted to make them. I remember getting splattered in mud while building the fort of Shivaji Rajey with red powder and how the boys would come and bust it by lighting firecrackers. I also loved doing the rangoli for hours and lighting diyas.
This Diwali, I want to spend quality time with family, decorate the house, make beautiful rangolis and light the house with our traditional diyas. And, of course, make traditional snacks — karanji, rava laddoos, besan laddoos, chakli, sev, etc. The smell of traditional food makes you feel as though you are back home.
Ritu Kakar, Dubai-based independent curator and art seller
Diwali is a holiday of joy for me. It’s the time when we gather with our loved ones, celebrating our family, friends and the prosperity God has bestowed upon us. It is a festival of light in two ways: we light our houses with lanterns, diyas and burst colourful fireworks, and it’s a festival which dispels the darkness of our ignorance. This year too, I’m looking forward to the Laxmi puja with my parents and sisters, lighting up the house with diyas and enjoying the open skies filled with colourful fireworks.
