Divali/Diwali in New York City

Divali/Diwali means an array of lights and is the Hindu festival of lights, It is a celebration of good over evil and light over darkness. It is a tradition of lighting deyas around the home, yards, staircases, shapes, bamboo, and different spaces. Deyas are small clay lamps with a wick filled with oil or ghee for lighting. In Trinidad and Tobago, Hindus do not consume any meat during the Divali celebration, It is a sacred time and they fast from all meat eating. Divali is not only celebrated in temples and religious groups, it is also celebrated in homes, communities, and organizations

Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago Divali/Diwali is part of our culture. Although we are not Hindu my grandmother’s neighbors are, and during the Divali celebration, the neighbors would send food to my grandmother’s home or my grandmother would sometimes go over to the neighbor’s home to celebrate with them. I remember sitting in my grandmother’s gallery (known in America as porch, balcony, etc) just gazing at the lit deyas as far as my eyes could see in absolute awe. The lit deyas on homes and businesses surrounding us were simply beautiful.

As an adult experiencing Divali in New York City has the same meaning but the celebrations and cuisine is very different from Trinidad and Tobago. In New York, the celebrations are more enclosed depending on what neighborhood you are in and the East Indian cuisine is similar but has a totally different spin compared to the East Indian food in Trinidad and Tobago again depending on the neighborhood you are in. 

Some of the delicious dishes from my childhood Divali experience in Trinidad and Tobago are Roti, Dhal (yellow split peas) and rice, curried bodie (type of peas), curried mango, Bhagi (type of spinach), pumpkin, channa(chickpeas/garbanzo beans) and potato, and Chataigne (a similar comparison would be chestnuts).

Appetizers; phoulourie, saheena, Saheena. Sweets; Khurma, Barfi, and Ladoo just to name a few.

I now have an enhanced understanding of Divali and an increased appreciation for the opportunity to align with other energies for the sake of setting positive intentions.