Living in Shanghai offers a vibrant tapestry of cultures, and as Diwali, the dazzling Festival of Lights, approaches, it's a fantastic opportunity to learn about the traditions and celebrations and how one can experience them in our city. From explaining its significance, rooted in Indian mythology, to festive sweets, we’ve got you covered. So, get ready to immerse yourselves in the festival celebrating love, lights, and positivity.   

Photo: Canva

The "Festival of Lights" isn't just about flickering diyas (oil lamps) and mouth-watering sweets; it's a five-day celebration steeped in rich mythology, traditions, and the joyous triumph of good over evil. This year, India will celebrate Diwali on the eve of October 31 and the morning of November 1. While Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists primarily celebrate Diwali in India, they also celebrate it with great enthusiasm in various other regions such as Nepal, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, the UK, the US, and Australia. The festival’s origins are deeply rooted in Indian mythology and the epic tale of Ramayana. 

The mythological tale of the Ramayana is an adventure filled with courage, love, and perseverance. Briefly, the Hindu epic tells the story of Prince Rama, an avatar of the god Vishnu. Exiled by his stepmother, Rama along with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana spent 14 years in the forest. During this time, Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, abducts Sita. Rama, with the help of an army of monkeys led by Hanuman, builds a bridge to Lanka and defeats Ravana, saving Sita. They make their way back to Ayodhya, where they crown Rama as king. The lighting of diyas, symbolizing the dispelling of darkness on a new moon night, celebrates their triumphant return to Ayodhya, their kingdom. The literary work is a masterpiece and explores themes of dharma (righteousness), love, loyalty, and the eternal battle between good and evil.

Want to delve deeper? Here are some family-friendly recommendations to explore the Ramayana:

Diwali, a cultural phenomenon that transcends religion, commemorates fresh starts and the triumph of virtue over malevolence. While most people outside of the celebration regions only know Diwali and its main day of festivities, it's actually a 5-day festival, a time for families to gather, exchange gifts, share stories, and enjoy delicious treats. This year festivities start on October 29. Here's a look at the five days of Diwali, each with its own unique rituals and significance:

Like other Asian cultures and practices during the spring festival, Dhanteras, the first day of celebrations, dedicates itself to welcoming wealth and prosperity. Homes are cleaned, households purchase new utensils or precious metals, and small diyas are lit to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

● Choti Diwali (Day 2): This translates to "Small Diwali," and it's a day for thorough cleaning and prepping for the main festivities. Houses are decorated with rangolis (colorful floor patterns made with powdered colors and or flowers) and diyas.  

The heart of the festival! Diyas illuminate homes, symbolizing the dispelling of darkness. Over time, traditions evolve and modernize, and now it is very common to see windows and home entrances adorned with colourful LED lights, and paper lanterns.

Traditionally, new clothes are brought for the entire family, everyone performs puja (prayer rituals), praying to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Ganesha, the Elephant God and Remover of Obstacles, and shares sweets like barfi (a dense sweet made with clarified butter, milk and sugar) and gulab jamun (syrup-soaked dumplings).

Kids burst firecrackers, one would visit houses of relatives and friends to share meals, play cards and wear their best attire.

In modern days, while all of the above is still followed, Diwali has evolved into a show of status and wealth, with parties becoming increasingly extravagant, and theme based. However, when there are lavish spreads of food and sweets and a universally accepted forgiveness of the calorie count, there's really nothing to complain about.

Also known as Annakoot, is a Hindu festival celebrated on the fourth day of Diwali. It commemorates Lord Krishna's act of lifting Mount Govardhan to protect the people of Vrindavan from torrential rains sent by the rain god Indra. Special offerings are made to cows, which are considered sacred in India. People celebrate Govardhan Puja with enormous enthusiasm, particularly in regions like Mathura and Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna spent his childhood. Devotees create miniature Govardhan hills using cow dung and decorate them with flowers and offerings. They also prepare a variety of vegetarian dishes, offering them to Lord Krishna before sharing them with the community.

This day celebrates the bond between siblings. Sisters offer prayers for their brothers' well-being, and brothers shower their sisters with gifts and blessings. This festival, while very similar, should not be confused with Raksha Bandhan, which also celebrates the sibling bond. While Raksha Bandhan falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Shravan and primarily celebrates a sister’s prayers for her brother’s well-being and protection, Bhai Dooj falls on the second lunar day in the month of Kartik and is a reciprocal and wholesome day where both siblings seek blessings from each other. Gifts are exchanged on both days.

No celebration is complete without food, and Diwali is no exception. Arguably it is the best time to visit India. Walking around well-lit streets with an air of excitement all around, smelling the aroma of spices and sweets, Diwali is an emotion.

Some popular Diwali delicacies you definitely need to try once in life are:

Sweets: Diwali is synonymous with delicious sweets like barfi, ladoo (sweetened lentil balls), and jalebi (deep-fried, pretzel-shaped sweets dipped in syrup).

Luckily for us, prepackaged items are available via Indian grocery marts and sellers over WeChat. Some homemakers also make and sell these items during the festive season, ask any Indian friend!

If you’d like to buy some Indian sweets for colleagues and friends, search the names of these sweets on Taobao: Kaju Katli, Rasgulla, Gulab Jamun, Besan Ladoo, Motichoor Ladoo, Pista Barfi, Pinni, or simply type Diwali sweets.

Savory delights: Diwali feasts often include samosas (fried or baked pastries filled with spiced potatoes and vegetables), easily available at Indian restaurants across the city; they’re definitely worth a try! Another deep-fried savory item is Pakoras (fritters), you can also enjoy Tikka platters if you haven’t before.

As an expat family in Shanghai, you can experience Diwali in several ways:

Join a Diwali celebration: Many Indian social clubs and cultural organizations in Shanghai host Diwali events. These gatherings often involve cultural performances, rangoli competitions, and, of course, delicious food.

Another great way to celebrate and light up someone’s Diwali is to visit the homes of your Indian colleagues and friends who are away from home at this time of year.

Light up your home: Just as many do on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Lunar festivals, decorate your home to immerse yourself in another culture.

Get into the festive spirit by decorating your home with diyas or LED candles and creating a rangoli at your doorstep. You can even find rangoli stencils online or get creative and draw motifs with colored chalk!

Whip up some sweets or try an Indian recipe: Introduce your family to the joy of Diwali with a simple recipe. There are many online resources for making Indian food, and while the flavors are complex, making some quick dishes is surprisingly easy!

If cooking is too much of a hassle, it is the perfect time to visit Indian restaurants who will welcome you with pride and show you the festive spirit of Diwali. Many of these places will also have Diwali special buffets and meals, so look out for those!

Be the light in someone’s darkness. A huge aspect of Hinduism is the act of servitude. If you find yourself in a position where you can assist someone in need, there's no better way to celebrate than being the light in their life during their time of need. Donate clothes, food or help an animal shelter, or spend time at an old age home. Kindness will always be the best gift you can give someone.

Beyond the lights and sweets, Diwali is a reminder of the power of unity and the triumph of good over evil. As we celebrate this beautiful festival in a cosmopolitan city like Shanghai, let's embrace the diversity around us and remember the true spirit of Diwali: the triumph of light over darkness, righteousness over evil, and hope over despair. Let's carry this spirit into our daily lives, spreading kindness and compassion wherever we go. May this Diwali bring light and happiness into everyone's lives.

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