Happy Diwali Everyone!

Diwali, the festival of lights, is just around the corner, and I am thrilled to share my plans for celebrating this joyous occasion in 2023. As an SEO expert with a keen eye for holiday marketing, I will focus on festive foods, cultural traditions, and online engagement to make this Diwali a memorable one.

Festival Foodie Plans

As a food lover and festival enthusiast, my plan for Diwali in 2023 is always centered around delicious food. This year, the good news is that Diwali coincides with a weekend, enabling my husband and I to enjoy some exciting shopping and dining experiences at our favorite restaurants.

American Festivities: A Relatively Quiet Affair

In the United States, there is no holiday specifically for Diwali. While many Indian Americans take leaves if they wish, this year, it seems unlikely as the festive season begins with Thanksgiving at the end of November. Our preparations for this year's celebration have already kicked off a few days ago, and we are readying ourselves for a delightful culinary adventure.

Preparations and Recipes

We have already stocked up on some ready-made delights such as gulabjamuns, rasagullas, and namkeen from Apni Mandi, the largest Indian grocery store in the San Francisco Bay Area. Additionally, I have indulged in making coconut ladoos, a super-easy recipe that adds a touch of sweetness to our Diwali table. At home, we will also be savouring modaks and nimkis, and preparing sewaiya kheer, my husband's favourite dessert, tomorrow.

Calorie overload is inevitable during these days, but we will balance it out with our regular diet. Decorating our balcony with a string of lights that remain lit until the beginning of 2024 adds a festive aura to our home. During these days, it's easy to spot the homes of Indian origin in the US as they decorate their homes with lights.

Shopping for Diwali

We plan to make the most of the last-minute discounts on edibles in stores. Celebrating low-key at home, my husband and I will play a couple of religious bhajans and short prayers in the evening to worship goddess Lakshmi and lord Ram. We will also dress in ethnic clothing and connect with close relatives via video calls. This festival is also a great opportunity to check in with infrequent contacts!

Personal Rituals and Gratitude

One of my cherished personal rituals will be to record and post a video of a silver plate decorated with special food items on my Instagram food page. This not only captures the essence of our celebration but also allows others to share the joy. It's a wonderful way to express gratitude to the universe for all the blessings.

A Diwali party is coming up later this month at a friend's place, so we will be celebrating again during the Thanksgiving weekend. However, there are some Diwali traditions you may be surprised we don't follow, such as burning firecrackers, lighting actual diyas, hosting parties, strict rituals, buying new clothes or appliances, and special cleaning. These are not essential for our family as we keep things simple and meaningful.

For more dramatic imagery of the festive spirit, you can check out my personal collection of photos. Follow me on Instagram for more delicious stuff and connect with the community.

Happy Diwali, and may this joyous festival bring joy and light to your life!