Like many living outside India, Bhave ensures the festival does not loose its zeal in unaccustomed earth
As October approaches, the first thing Saurabhi Bhave does is check which dates Diwali will fall on her Kalnirnay, which family sends her from India every year.
"Unlike back home, there are no holidays for Diwali or in the run-up to it," says Bhave, who lives with her son and husband in Coventry, England. "I need to start preparing for the festival a lot earlier because of tight work schedule. I try not miss on anything I would do back home." 'Home' is Dombivali, from where Bhave moved 13 years ago after her husband was transferred to UK.
Like many living outside India, Bhave ensures the festival does not loose its zeal in unaccustomed earth. The family starts with the customary ritual cleaning the home, making rangoli and lanterns, preparing 'faral' delicacies, grounding up the 'utna' (scrub) and purchasing new clothes for every one.
Though lovingly nurtured cultural associations, they ensure that the festival comes alive in temples and in the community through havans, programs and performances. "The mayor of London once organised a program for Diwali. A number of us participated and even performed 'lejhim'. It felt great to connect to the culture and relive the fun we would have back home," says Bhave.
She also ensure that the atmosphere of joy spreads outside the Indian community. "I take the festival to work," she says. "Luckily, I'm a teacher, and out here, the national curriculum envelopes a religious education. Students are expected to know a few things about all religions. Once you move away, you need to keep little India and its culture alive in your heart, and this helps. Her colleagues even help her draw rangoli at their workplace.
"I make rangoli with flowers, if I don't get colour," she says. This is what she misses the most, besides building 'killas' forts and spending time with family. "I really miss watching rangoli exhibitions," she says wistfully.
Suhita Suryavanshi, who lives in Canada, also misses the bonhomie the festival brings in. "We really miss meeting loved ones," she says, "In India, we'd go to someone's place and spend time with family." The couple make up by attending events held by the Indian Canada Associations such as pot-luck evenings.
"A havan is not possible; diyas are allowed, but not crackers," she explains, "So we visit a temple where the priests inform us about the various tithis. I take a day off to pray at home because someone should be at home at Lakshmipujan."
For her children, the crackers remain the primary draw. "They may have started to get regulated in India, but its what my son looks forward to most during Diwali. He was really excited when he visited India once and saw how they were burst. Here, he gets to burst only light-emitting crackers, albeit after we do the courtesy of informing the neighbours. Fire safety norms do not allow diyas outside homes, so we put up electric diyas," says Bhave, who ensures her son learns as much as he can about his country through the festival.
"I tell him that the festival is about the victory of good over evil... How Lord Ram came back (from exile). When you are away, things also slip from your mind. I make a point to show him YouTube, and we also try to follow our traditions such as apply utna for the ritual bath," said Bhave.
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