It’s THE Highlight of the year … no pressure!

Diwali is beautiful, symbolic and a celebration of our religion and culture. We dress , we eat , we pray … literally everything an Indian household holds dear .

The memories of our childhood is the driving force of how we celebrate Diwali in each of our homes … we want our children to feel the same way .

It’s tricky to navigate cultural occasions being a minority Race , a conscious decision needs to be made to live and showcase our beautiful heritage. The fear is real of what can be lost through the generations . As 4th generation South Africans of Indian decent much slipped off the cracks but we try daily to proudly embrace our rich heritage.

I’m saying all this as I know many of you feel the same way … we treasure our culture and even if we have to relearn things in our 30’s 40’s or do this for the first time in our 20’s – we want to make our own traditions and adapt these to fit into our identities.

As Super parents we want to do everything but not to get in a tizz and add immense pressure , this is a reminder

Reuse , repurpose, order , outsource – simplify!

You don’t need to do everything on your own … finding a middle ground of the things that spark joy is where you should focus on .

There are loads of ways to bring the spirit of Diwali into your home in simple gestures…

The Diwali Spirit…

1. Support a charity

2. Make a special effort and set the table pretty. If you don’t have family nearby invite friends over .

3. Cook your favorite meal . If Cooking is not your thing – order in .

4. Dress up – it’s lovely to honor the day even if it’s just you at home . No need to buy new things- mix things up with accessories and other items in your wardrobe

5. Change up the cushions/ throws in your lounge – freshen up the room with a new energy and a pop of color .

6. Decorate your home with diya’s or candles – they easily accessible in most areas these days

7. Phone / send messages to connect to old friends and family

8. Visit a Mandir to give thanks and take Darshan

We live in a society where our kids celebrate Easter, Christmas Halloween and everything in between… that’s totally fine But for Diwali we go Extra !!

I’ll hide the Eater eggs ( don’t tell my kids ) but when it comes to Diwali we make it The Event of our Household.

Simple things we do :

1. New PJ’s and undies is a tradition my parents always did

2. Smart new clothes for the kids

3. We do a small gift on the morning of Diwali- a book or craft/ toy .

4. We go for a Fireworks display and light Sparkles and those ‘ put put’ ones ( our neighborhood has specific times /day )

5. We visit or have our family over for at least one of the days … it’s these simple things that build treasure banks for our kids!

If you still reading,I’m sure it resonates… what’s on your list ?