As the first diyas flicker to life, the air fills with the scent of jasmine and marigold. My children’s laughter echoes through the house as we carefully place tiny oil lamps along the windowsills, their flames reflecting in the glass like hundreds of golden stars. We string garlands, light sparklers, play Indian music, and share plates of sweets that taste like memory and warmth. Each year, this ritual feels like a pause from the noise, a way to honor where we come from while creating new traditions of our own.

I didn’t grow up celebrating Diwali in the traditional sense, but I always felt its presence around me, the energy, the joy, the sense of renewal that fills the season. Now, as a mother, I’ve found my own way to honor it. Lighting diyas with my children has become a small but powerful tradition, one that connects us to something ancient yet alive, reminding us that light isn’t just something we see—it’s something we create.

Where Diwali is Celebrated

Diwali is celebrated across India and throughout the global Indian diaspora, from Kerala and Mumbai to London, Singapore, and New York. Each region tells its own story. In the north, it marks Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after exile. In the south, it celebrates Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura. The details vary, but the essence remains constant. It is the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and renewal over stagnation.

What Diwali Means

The word Diwali, or Deepavali, comes from Sanskrit, meaning “a row of lights.” More than a festival, it is a reflection of what light represents: clarity, awareness and connection. In Ayurveda, light symbolizes agni, the inner fire that governs transformation and understanding. When our inner flame burns steadily, we feel grounded, vibrant and balanced.

For me, the act of lighting diyas has become a meditation on release and renewal. It is a quiet ritual that helps me reflect on what I want to let go of and what I wish to nurture. Each flame becomes a small promise to live with more intention, gratitude and compassion.

How Diwali is Celebrated

Throughout India, Diwali transforms cities and homes into a vibrant display of color and scent. Families clean their homes, decorate with marigold garlands and create rangolis (beautiful patterns made with colored powders or flower petals) to welcome good fortune. Sweets painted with gold leaves are shared, prayers are offered to Goddess Lakshmi and the night sky sparkles with fireworks and light.

In our home, the celebration feels softer but no less meaningful. We light diyas, dress up, play favorite Indian hits, share Indian sweets and gather with family. There is laughter, warmth and a sense of togetherness that makes the world feel a little lighter. For me, Diwali is a reminder that beauty lives in both tradition and evolution,  in honoring where we come from while shaping what we pass forward.

Who Celebrates Diwali

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, each faith honoring its own story of liberation and enlightenment. Over time, it has grown beyond religion and become a universal celebration of hope and reflection. It is for anyone who believes in the possibility of renewal and in the quiet strength that comes from light.

A Modern Reflection

Every year, as the house glows and music hums softly in the background, I find myself standing still for a moment. The children are laughing, sparklers light up the night and the air smells faintly of incense and sweets. In that small pocket of time, Diwali feels less like a festival and more like a reminder to be present, to notice how light changes everything it touches.

It is not about perfection or ceremony. It is about joy, warmth, and the connections that keep us rooted. It is about letting the light in and allowing it to linger long after the diyas fade.

                                                                                        Love + Light,