While the words “Happy Diwali” might seem like a simple gesture from her neighbor, to Child Advocacy Specialist Mugdha, they carried so much weight.
Diwali, which means ‘Row of Lights’, is a 5-day festival. It started more than 2,500 years ago, when Rama came back after fighting a demon. The whole city was decorated with lamps to welcome Lord Rama and his wife, Sita. It's a celebration of the victory of good over evil or light over darkness.
While the words “Happy Diwali” might seem like a simple gesture from her neighbor, to Child Advocacy Specialist Mugdha, they carried so much weight.
Growing up in India, every member of Mugdha’s family participated in Diwali preparation and celebration. They cleaned every corner of the house, baked all the traditional snacks such as chakli or ladoo, decorated, exchanged gifts, and surrounded themselves with family and friends.
When she moved to the US, however, that all changed. “It was just me and my husband, so there was no one [else] to share the joy with… it was sometimes really depressing not having family around because there was no coming together, no one [besides my husband] to exchange gifts with.”
Having experienced that isolation when she was in college, Mugdha knows how crucial it is to expose her children to their culture in any way she can. When it comes to celebrating Diwali, that means having them take part in some of those traditions she experienced as a child and bringing them to any community events available. “That is how they learn about their culture… [unless I] do something at home, they’re not exposed to anything outside of our small world.”
"but that wouldn’t have happened if that community feeling— if they didn’t see others performing— hadn't happened.”
Mugdha has also seen firsthand how immersing her family in their culture can empower them. “A few months ago, my daughter and friends wanted to quit dancing—the Indian classical dance. [They said they] were only doing it because ‘our moms are making us.’”
Then they performed at one of these festivals.
They won first across all categories and were like, ‘no, we don’t want to quit now,’ but that wouldn’t have happened if that community feeling— if they didn’t see others performing— hadn't happened.”
Feeling empowered in your culture and celebrating other’s heritages is vital. It’s why for any children we serve; we strive to ensure they are exposed to various parts of their heritage— whether that means keeping them connected to family members if it is safe to do so or making sure they experience traditional food and cultural traditions.
To everyone celebrating, Happy Diwali!
To learn more about Diwali, check out some of the resources below:
https://www.history.com/news/the-ancient-origins-of-indias-biggest-holiday
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali
https://www.almanac.com/content/diwali
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/celebrate-diwali-with-books
