As oil lamps flicker and colorful rangoli patterns are drawn, students prepare to celebrate Diwali, a festival filled with lights, sweets and joy . Beneath the fireworks and family gatherings are traditions that reflect the diverse cultures within the school community.

Diwali is celebrated differently across cultures, North India observes it as a five-day festival, with each day holding its own significance, such as lighting lamps to honor Lord Rama’s return or worshiping Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and well-being. Meanwhile in South India, it is typically celebrated over one or two days focusing on Lord Krishna’s defeat of the Narakasura. Both regions celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. FCPS gives a holiday on the third day of Diwali, which is considered the most important because it is the darkest night of the festival, when families gather to illuminate their homes and welcome prosperity.

“It’s amazing how FCPS gives students the day off for Diwali,” sophomore Manasvi Singh said. “Before, I would try to finish my schoolwork early so I could spend the rest of the evening with my family.”

Hindi, a widely spoken language in North India, is the language of Singh’s family. Following North Indian traditions, they celebrate Diwali by lighting oil lamps (diyas) and creating intricate rangoli patterns at the entrance of their home. Rangoli is a colorful art form made with colored powders and is commonly placed at the entrances of homes to welcome prosperity and good fortune.

“Making Rangoli with my mom in the morning is the best part,” Singh said. “It’s something we’ve always done together and it makes the house feel festive and welcoming.”

Telugu, a South Indian language predominantly spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is the language of junior Mika Omtri’s family. Following Telugu traditions, they celebrate Diwali with a focus on cultural customs rather than religious rituals like pujas which are prayers and offerings to deities. They prepare special foods that are unique to their background, such as tamarind rice and soonudalu, a sweet made from roasted chickpea flour and jaggery, which are shared with family and friends.

“We don’t do pujas to celebrate Diwali,” Omtri said. “ We mostly just focus on parts like making cultural food and enjoy [lighting] the fireworks with family and friends.”

For families like sophomore Harini Chandu’s, who speak Tamil, a South Indian language primarily spoken in the state of Tamil Nadu,  Diwali involves customs like lighting firecrackers, creating kolam (decorative floor designs made with rice flour) and gathering loved ones to share sweets. The celebration emphasizes joy, renewal and the importance of togetherness during the festival.

“For us, Diwali traditions include creating kolam outside our home and then doing a Lakshmi Puja in the evening,” Chandu said. “It’s my favorite time because I have so many happy memories associated with it.”

Sikh families celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas, a holiday commemorating the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from imprisonment. Guru Hargobind Ji was the sixth Guru out of ten of the Sikh religion and is known for giving the Sikh religion a military character. Sikhs observe the day with prayers, lighting lamps and sharing sweets with the community.

“In Sikhism, we celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas instead of Diwali, but they’re both celebrated around the same time,” sophomore Sukhreet Dhaliwal said. “We celebrate by listening to kirtan, or religious hymns, going to the gurdwara, the Sikh place of prayer.”

Traditional foods enjoyed during Sikh Diwali celebrations include dishes like karah prasad, a sweet made from wheat, ghee and sugar, served in Gurdwaras, which is a place of worship for Sikhs. Meals are often vegetarian, aligning with the spiritual values of Sikhism and reflect the sense of generosity and community that is central to the observance of Bandi Chhor Divas.

“We enjoy popular dishes from Punjab like chole, puri, butter paneer and sweets like kheer and jalebi,” Dhaliwal said. “The focus is on prayer and community and it’s a day to be grateful for our faith and freedom.”

In the end, no matter the customs or specifics of their celebrations, students agree that Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas bring a sense of unity and shared joy to their friends and family.

“Diwali is a time where everyone comes together,” Singh said. “It’s a time to be with the people you love and celebrate the festival of lights.”

This story was originally published on The Purple Tide | The Knightly News on November 1, 2024.