A family celebrates Diwali through shared traditions and inclusive hospitality

A family in India celebrates Diwali by opening their home to relatives, neighbors, and colleagues, creating a space where diverse people share meals and prayers.

The author describes how the holiday began in the kitchen with the preparation of traditional sweets and savory dishes. While living in Nagpur, the household hosted a wide circle of guests, including family members like Deepa Bhua and neighbors from Jangpura.

These guests arrived after completing their own private prayers to join the family for a communal gathering. During the festivities, the household staff played a central role in the experience. Panditji, a vegetarian Brahmin cook, prepared large quantities of samosas and kathal ki biryani. The author notes that the kitchen became a place of inclusion where even a small child could sit near the cook to watch the work.

The evening transitioned naturally from religious prayers and aarti to social activities like singing ghazals and playing cards. The author reflects on how these traditions traveled with them to America and eventually to a home in Mumbai. In the Mumbai home, a Muslim man named Abdullah led the Lakshmi puja, demonstrating how different faiths can coexist in a shared space.

The author argues that these moments of hospitality and shared music allow people to recognize one another's humanity despite different backgrounds.