Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, but what happens in the darkest of times?
New York was full of life, energy, and diversityso much of what I love.
But I wantedI neededa calmer, quieter city steeped in greenery, with less hustle and grit.
Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan
I was tired, burnt out.
In many ways, Cambridge provided everything.
Our apartment was spacious, set on a tree-lined street, and a short drive away from our families.
Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan
But that year, we lit candles and canceled our planned celebration with our extended family.
The COVID pandemic still loomedfear knotted in my veins.
We hunkered down in our apartment, often going days without stepping outside.
Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan
There were moments I surprised myself at how effortlessly I had adapted to a life of isolation.
Still, I missed seeing friends and family without masks, hand sanitizer, and six feet of distance.
That Diwali, we assembled in my parents front yard as gusts of November wind turned our cheeks pink.
One by one, we masked up and went inside to peer at the colorful decorations around the house.
It was a meaningful celebration, but I longed for more connectedness with our community.
COVID stormed into our lives, and celebrations looked markedly different.
I thought about the meaning of deepa: “light,” to illuminate and bring clarity.
At that moment, the significance of Diwali became clear to me.
For as long as I’ve celebrated Diwalimy whole lifeI had taken our ability to gather for granted.
It serves a vital function in my immigrant community: we gather to celebrate a shared culture.
We chatted for hours and exchanged stories, laughs, and a bottle of chilled cider.
That night, things felt different.
I felt so much gratitude toward my friends and the greater communitythis is home.
This year, Ill make a Diwali spread of sweets and salty snacks, likedelicata squash pakorasandpumpkin ladoo.
I’ll dress in a colorful chiffon dress adorned with intricate designs.
And of course, Ill celebrate with friends and family.
