Why Diwali Remains My Most Treasured Holiday of the Year

As the air turns crisp, and the city comes alive with shimmering lights, my heart fills with bubbling excitement and anticipation because Diwali is just around the corner.

It’s the time when Maa turns us into Monica Geller and we embark on a mission to clean every nook and cranny of the house, which is the prime step in preparing for Diwali. We spend at least three weeks meticulously scrubbing, swabbing, and washing everything until it’s Monica clean. 

Besides cleaning, another prerequisite and my favorite pre-Diwali tradition is preparing faral, the snacks and sweets for the holiday. There are umpteen varieties and these treats vary based on region, tradition, and family preferences. Our family favorites are mathri (a flaky biscuit), chakli (a spiky spiral of fried dough), chiwda (a fried snack mix), and coconut ladoo (round sweet treats). Among these, coconut laddoos hold an extremely special place in my heart. They are the essence of my Diwali. 

My Love of Coconut Ladoos

As a child, I couldn’t yet partake in preparing faral so I spent my time sitting around the kitchen adoring Maa. I yearned for the day I would be able to join in. To include me, Maa came up with a little ritual. 

When making coconut ladoos; she would prepare the ladoo mix, and include us to help roll and shape them. We sat on the patio, rolling ladoos and sharing laughs. My brother and I couldn't resist gobbling up a couple, which led to Maa's playful scolding since we ate them before offering bhog (food offered to god). What started as a little ritual to make me feel included has now become a cherished tradition in our family. To this day, we make ladoos together. 

By the way, my brother and I are still sneaking ladoos, and Maa has finally given up on scolding us! The aroma of coconuts, our family gathered around, sharing laughter and stories while shaping ladoos is a priceless memory that always warms my heart.

Preparing for Diwali as a Family

Now that I am grown up, both Maa and I prepare the faral. Mathri is an essential companion to our evening chai, without which no chai-time is truly complete. Chiwda, a cherished childhood tiffin snack, is yet another perfect chai-time companion. Mohanthal is  the melt-in-the-mouth sweet that we savor between meals (or any opportunity we get). And there are so many more dishes.  

In addition to our homemade delights, we also buy ready-made sweet boxes–gifting these during Diwali is a customary practice. These sweet boxes feature an array of other tantalizing treats such as kaju katli and badam katli (fudge-like sweets made with cashews and almonds, respectively), soan papdi (a flaky sweet), motichoor laddoo (another kind of sweet ball), and more delights that we don’t usually prepare at home. 

Apart from food, decoration such as lanterns, lights, rangolis (temporary floor designs using a mix of materials), diyas (candles), and torans (decorative door hangings), are all an integral part of Diwali. My brother and I take great joy in adorning the house every year, and the glimmer of colorful lights and decor at dusk creates a truly breathtaking sight. 

Diwali Gifts and More Beautiful Traditions

Another enjoyable tradition is shopping, encompassing everything from clothing and crackers to jewelry and even real estate. As Diwali marks the most auspicious time of the year, people often make substantial investments, including purchasing homes, cars, and gold. Our family has a cherished tradition of buying gold, and my dad delights both Maa and me with beautiful gold jewelry. This custom has now extended to my husband, who also surprises me with some exquisite jewelry.

A vital aspect of our celebration involves acts of kindness, especially towards the unsung heroes–our community helpers. Through sweets and gifts, we express our heartfelt gratitude to them. Celebrating with them not only heightens our own joy but also enriches the festive spirit with a profound sense of purpose and significance.

Diwali is that special time of the year when we willingly wake up at 4 AM, without an alarm or Mom's reverberating wake-up call. Mornings begin with bursting crackers and are followed by pooja (a Hindi word that means prayer and worship). Each of the five days of Diwali marks a different occasion hence a different pooja. We pray and offer gratitude for our family, home, and other precious belongings. Following the pooja, as we seek blessings from our elders, we are graciously gifted with naik, a monetary blessing. My brother loves this tradition as he is the youngest, so we all shower him with cash and he feels like he is the next Bezos. 

The evening festivities are adorned with the warm glow of diyas, family reunions, faral, and of course crackers. The day after Diwali marks the beginning of the new year as per the Hindu calendar, and we welcome it surrounded by our loved ones with immense joy, fun, and blessings.   

If this has sparked your excitement too and you're eager to partake in Diwali celebrations, I've included recipes for some of these mouthwatering dishes below. Give them a whirl and fully embrace the delightful spirit of our Desi festivities.

Get the Recipes

These Savory Flaky Snacks Hold a Special Place During Diwali

Spread Happiness and Cheer This Diwali With Coconut Laddoo

This Sweet and Savory Indian Snack Has a Big Crunch Factor

Wishing you a very happy Diwali and prosperous new year!