November 14 this year brings a Diwali unlike any in recent memory. With its lights, ornate clothing and elaborate decorations, Diwali traditionally brings family and friends together, gathered to enjoy five days of food, drink, and the company of their loved ones.
In the age of COVID, however, many families are facing a Diwali when they can’t be together. What happens then? Indians living abroad may be left feeling separated from the traditions and Diwali customs they’ve known their entire lives.
Despite the pandemic, it is still possible for family members to connect in a meaningful way and celebrate this cherished holiday—away from their home country.
Here are several options for helping bridge the gap and bringing you that sense of belonging, even when you can’t be there.
Connect with loved ones digitally
While voice calls, video chatting and text messaging might be the obvious choice for connecting long distance, consider using social apps to connect. Text messaging and voice calls are often expensive, but these apps provide free or low-cost solutions to making phone calls.
Another great benefit to using these apps is the simplicity it brings for large families to connect. Now instead of contacting loved ones one at a time, video chatting with multiple people gives large families better methods for sharing in the celebration. Find apps that work well with both Android and Apple devices to ensure everyone can connect easily.
Send a Diwali Gift to show your support
When loved ones are not able to come together during Diwali, a gift of support to family members can make all the difference. While purchasing a gift and shipping it abroad might be meaningful, the costs of shipping and the time it takes to arrive may not be the best choice.
One great alternative to shipping a gift is to send cash directly to loved ones. A monetary gift shows that you care and that you are committed to celebrating Diwali while you are away. In addition, a cash gift to a family member can help them purchase new clothing, food and decorations to prepare for the celebration.
An easy, and convenient way to send cash is through a money transfer service like Western Union. The online tools and mobile app are easy to use and can provide quick transfers to major banks like State Bank of India, HDFC, ICICI and others. Or, your recipient can pick up the rupees at one of the 121,000 locations in India, making your money transfer easy for loved ones to receive your cash gift.
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