How to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Celebrations around MetroWest

Nancy Olesin, MetroWest Daily News
·7 min read
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Diwali, the most important Hindu holiday around the world, especially in India, will be celebrated Oct. 24.

The five-day festival takes its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. Buddhists, Jains and Seikhs and other non-Hindus of many faiths also enjoy celebrating Diwali (pronouned "Duh-vaa-lee" and sometimes spelled "Deepavali" or "Deepawali").

In some parts of India, Diwali marks the new year or a celebration of new life. It honors the return of Lord Rama after exile and his victory over the Demon Ravana. Among other deities, Diwali is associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, as well as the idea of victory of good over evil.

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In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions, including students dressed in traditional clothing from different states of India.
In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions, including students dressed in traditional clothing from different states of India.

There are many adaptations of Diwali, depending on where the family is from. It's tradition for families to clean and decorate their homes and to don traditional dress: kurtas for men and saris for women. Fireworks are often a part of celebrations, in states where they are legal.

In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.
In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.

Indian food and sweet treats are also a part of Diwali celebrations. At the Sri Lakshmi Temple cafeteria in Ashland, sweets and snacks are now being made to order for pickup over the five-day holiday.

Southborough resident Punita Khatau, who is originally from Mumbai, India, said she enjoys the Diwali traditions that have been passed down through the generations.

With her now-grown children living in India and Chicago and many still shying away from temple services because of COVID-19, Khatau plans to get together with friends for several potluck celebrations over the five-day holiday. Her special contribution is making shrikhand, a sweet yogurt flavored with pistachios, almonds, saffron and cardamom.

Prayers will be said to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and other gods and goddesses. Youngsters sometimes receive an envelope with a small monetary gift, and ask their elders for a blessing.

"We have a lot of friends in the area, and when the kids were younger we started this tradition," Khatau said. Now that they are grown, some of the children will be "hosting all the aunites and uncles in their own homes," she added.

On Oct. 15, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council in Franklin hosted a Diwali event. Attended by families, faculty, staff and administration, as well as state Sen. Becca Rausch and members of the Franklin Cultural Council, activities included decorating diyas (lamps), mehndi (body art), rangoli sand art, mandala coloring, a "how to wear a sari" booth, a photo booth and storytelling performances featuring song, tabla (drumming), Bollywood and classical dances, and a walk featuring students wearing clothing from different states of India.

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In Westborough, three hourlong programs of arts and crafts, henna, a cultural show and more were held Wednesday at Sugar Shack, 15 East Main St. Presented by The India Society of Worcester and The BORO Program, the program featured a book reading by Wellesley children's book author Ushma Multani, who wrote "Reena and the Diwali Star."

In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.
In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.

Here are some other ways you can celebrate Diwali in 2022:

Diwali crafts

Join the Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington St., from 4-6 p.m. Monday, to make an accordion folded paper diya, paper-and-craft stick lantern, or join in and simply color. Suitable for ages 3-12. https://framinghamlibrary.org/

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Ashland Indians event

After a two-year absence, the Ashland Indians' annual Diwali event returns on Oct. 29, from 5-9 p.m. at Ashland High School, 65 East Union St. The Ashland Indians is a nonprofit organization that focuses on spreading knowledge of Indian culture, heritage and diversity, and works to inspire the Indian community to support social and public welfare. The event is sold out, but volunteer spots are still available at https://www.ashlandindians.org/diwali2022.

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Temple worship

Sri Lakshmi Temple, 117 Waverly St. (Route 135), Ashland, will hold Diwali worship services on Sunday through Tuesday. Monday is Diwali/Deepavali Day, with services at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Sri Lakshmi Kubera Puja is scheduled, with a $201 sponsorship. The temple prepares sweet and savory foods available for pickup (more information below) and is also holding a sari sale Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit https://srilakshmi.org/

In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring tabla, traditional Indian drumming, and many other different Diwali traditions.
In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring tabla, traditional Indian drumming, and many other different Diwali traditions.

Delightful Diwali at Worcester Art Museum

Celebrate Diwali with a visit to Worcester Art Museum, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 6; admission is free all day. The museum plans an array of Indian dance, music, food and art-making events for the Hindu "Festival of Lights" with the India Society of Worcester on WAM's Free First Sunday. Visit https://www.worcesterart.org/events/diwali/

In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.
In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.

Try a taste of India

To discover the flavors of the vast South Asian country, stop in or order takeout at a local Indian restaurant. You'll be taken on a culinary trip and be supporting a local business at the same time. Here are some to try:

Welcome India, 770 Worcester Road (Route 9), Framingham. This is nothing fancy, but one of our favorite lunch buffet spots in town. Be sure to try the vegetable pakora, with fresh veggies deep-fried in chickpea batter. It's downhome restaurant space just makes us feel so "welcome." http://welcomeindiaframingham.com/

In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.
In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.

Soul of India, 103 Boston Post Road (Route 20), Sudbury. With 4.5 stars on Yelp, other diners agree this is one of the best Indian dining experiences in the area.

The Curry House, 418 West Central St. (Route 140), Franklin. Want take-out? The Curry House has a drive-thru window that makes picking it up so convenient, in any weather. And Yelp reviewers give it 4.5 stars.

Sri Lakshmi Temple, 117 Waverly St. (Route 135), Ashland. A variety of sweet and savory Indian food are available to order. Visit https://tinyurl.com/53pyr8ac

In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.
In Franklin, the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School English Learner Parent Advisory Council sponsored a Diwali celebration on Oct. 15, featuring many different Diwali traditions.

Diwali is celebrated over five days

DAY ONE: People clean their homes and shop for gold or kitchen utensils to help bring good fortune.

DAY TWO: People decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand.

DAY THREE: On the main day of the festival, families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities.

DAY FOUR: This is the first day of the new year, when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season.

DAY FIVE: Brothers visit their married sisters, who welcome them with love and a lavish meal.

Source: NatGeo Kids

Sweet recipes and sales

Diwali is also known for its sweet treats. These recipes were recommended to our sister publication, USA Today, by Deven Patel, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's South Asia Studies department.

Through Oct. 27, Sai India Market, 1239 Worcester Road, Framingham, is having a 10% sale for Diwali on most items in its store, excluding rice at flour (atta). Call 508-433-6110 or visit their website https://www.saiindiamarket.com/ for more information.

The Spices Hut, 700 Worcester Road, Framingham, is offering 10% off on sweets and snacks for Diwali. Call 508-743-7744 or visit www.spiceshutfm.com

Motichur Laddu is a sugary concoction that melts in your mouth. Start with gram flour batter and fry it into tiny balls. Then drizzle it with sugary syrup and mix in nuts and spices for the perfect bite-sized treat. Find the full recipe on veganrecipesofindia.com.

Jalebiis a spiral-shaped sweet made of all-purpose flour, gram flour and sugar syrup. Boil sugar and water to make the syrup, and mix maida, corn flour, tumeric and curd to make the batter. Using a sauce bottle, draw spirals of the batter onto a frying pan, then drizzle the sugar syrup on top. Find the full recipe on indianhealthyrecipes.com.

Gulab jamun is a dessert made of small balls (like the size of donut holes) dipped in a pool of rose-flavored sugar syrup. You can make the syrup with a combination of cardamom, sugar and water, and the dough for the balls is made up of flour, yogurt, milk and milk powder. Once the dough is shaped into balls, fry them and drown them in syrup. The full recipe can be found on indianhealthyrecipes.com.

SOURCE: USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Celebrate Diwali the Hindu festival of lights in MetroWest and at home