How to celebrate Diwali at home

Diwali is right around the corner. That means five days of lights, delicious food, and quality time with family and friends.

But what if you can’t be in India for the country’s biggest and most important holiday? Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Diwali at home—no matter where home is for you.

So, how do you celebrate Diwali at home?

For many expats, capturing the magic of Diwali from afar involves vibrant decorations, family-friendly activities, delicious traditional cuisine, and virtual connections with loved ones back home.

With a little planning, you can bring the Diwali celebrations right to you.

What is Diwali?

Diwali, or Deepavali, translates to “rows of light” in Sanskrit—the sacred ancient language of Hinduism. While widely celebrated as a Hindu holiday, some Buddhist cultures also observe this festival.

The five-day Diwali celebration is among India’s deepest traditions. Families decorate their homes with lights and gather around fireworks and light displays to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. Although Diwali is primarily celebrated in India, local groups, businesses, schools, and associations around the world observe it.

Some of the ways people celebrate Diwali include:

• • • Embracing new beginnings: Diwali is a time for new beginnings, reflection, and setting intentions for the year ahead.
    • Illuminating homes: Revelers illuminate their homes with diyas (oil lamps) and colorful lights, creating a festive atmosphere.
    • Offering prayers and feasting: Many people offer prayers to deities like Lakshmi and Ganesha and enjoy feasts with family and friends.
    • Enjoying fireworks and exchanging sweets: Fireworks displays and the exchange of sweets are common ways to celebrate.

When does Diwali fall?

Diwali occurs sometime between September and November annually, depending on the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2024, Diwali starts on Tuesday, October 29, and runs through November 3.

Here’s where Diwali falls in the years to come:

(Source: Drik Panchang)

* While Diwali is a five-day festival, festivities sometimes stretch beyond five days due to regional customs and the intricacies of the lunar calendar.

5 ways to celebrate Diwali at home

If you can’t be with family in India during Diwali, here are five ways to bring the Festival of Lights to you.

1. Decorate your home for Diwali

Celebrating Diwali at home starts with traditional decorations such as diyas and rangoli, the latter of which is colorful floor art (more on that later). You can also hang a string of lights, colorful curtains, drapes, or tapestries and light a few tea candles wherever they best fit.

Other Diwali-themed decorative touches include:

• • • Flowers: Flowers are a big part of Indian festivals. You could decorate your home with garlands of marigolds, jasmine, or other fragrant blooms.
    • Torans: These decorative door hangings, made of mango leaves, flowers, or fabric, are said to welcome guests and bring good luck.
    • Urli: For an elegant centerpiece, fill a traditional urli (a decorative metal bowl) with water and flower petals. As a finishing touch, place floating candles on top.
    • Shubh Labh symbols: These auspicious symbols represent prosperity and good fortune. You can paint them on walls or use them as decorative items.
    • Festive tableware: Use colorful and ornate plates, bowls, and glasses to serve your Diwali feast.

2. Creating colorful rangoli

Creating rangoli is a beautiful way to celebrate Diwali at home.

Rangoli are intricate, often geometric patterns made of materials such as colored rice, rice powder, sand, flower petals, lentils, or beans. These colorful designs adorn the floor or ground and hold deep cultural significance. They symbolize good luck, prosperity, and the triumph of good over evil.

The tradition of rangoli making is often a cherished part of family heritage. It’s a form of folk art featuring techniques and patterns often passed down from generation to generation.

To create rangoli, start with simple patterns like geometric shapes or flowers. Sketching your designs out with chalk is a good first step. Then, carefully fill in your design with your materials of choice. Add layers and details along the way for depth and complexity. The sky’s the limit to how creative you can be.

3. Watch holiday films

Another great way to get in the Diwali spirit is by streaming holiday movies.

There’s plenty to choose from. Some films prominently feature Diwali celebrations, while others resonate with Diwali’s spirit—such as the triumph of good over evil, the importance of family and community, or stories about new beginnings.

Some cinematic favorites that capture the essence of Diwali include:

• • • Gamak Ghar (2019)
    • Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
    • Swades (2004)
    • Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
    • Mohabbatein (2000)
    • Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
    • Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994)

4. Light candles, sparklers, or fireworks

Candles, sparklers, and fireworks all capture the essence of Diwali. You can pay homage to the triumph of light over darkness by illuminating your home with diyas and flickering candles.

Lighting sparklers also adds a touch of excitement, especially for children. If your local regulations allow, a small fireworks display can bring the Diwali celebration straight to your backyard.

5. Wear traditional clothing

Even if you’re half a world away from the Diwali festivities in your home country, traditional clothing adds to the authenticity of your celebration. Dress in your finest traditional attire—a colorful sari, kurta, or sherwani—and ask your family or friends to do the same.

Family activities during Diwali

Celebrating Diwali with family and friends is a point of pride for many Indians living abroad.

Embrace the festive spirit with colorful lights, rangoli, candles, and, if possible, sparklers and fireworks. You can even print the lyrics for some popular sing-alongs and demonstrate your best Diwali dance moves together.

Exchanging gifts is another way to make Diwali abroad feel more like it does back home. Traditional gifts, like Lakshmi Ganesh coins, religious idols, and dry fruits, convey respect, good wishes, love, and appreciation for the recipient. They also symbolize a hope for prosperity.

Other ways to celebrate Diwali at home include connecting with loved ones through storytelling, sharing memories of past Diwalis, or teaching children about the festival’s stories and traditions.

Diwali cuisine to prepare at home

Aside from the brilliant light displays and gift-giving, the most anticipated part of Diwali is the assortment of delicious foods. Even if you’re celebrating from a home abroad, preparing a special Diwali feast with traditional Indian dishes can help put you in the festive mood.

This feast can include sweets like laddoos and jalebis, as well as savory items like samosas and biryani. If you don’t have the time to cook, you can pick up your favorite Indian dishes from an Indian restaurant or ethnic grocery store near you.

Another popular Diwali tradition is to host an authentic “puja potluck” with tikka, curry, biryani, roti, poori, paneer, and plenty of desserts. Looking for something that requires less planning? You could instead share traditional Indian sweets and Chai tea.

Celebrating Diwali virtually with loved ones

While voice calls, video chatting, and text messaging might be the obvious choices for connecting over long distances, consider using social apps to connect. International text messaging and voice calls can be expensive, but these apps provide free or low-cost solutions to making phone calls.

Another benefit of using these apps is how simple they make it for large families to connect. Instead of contacting loved ones one at a time, video chatting with multiple people gives everyone a platform to share in the celebration.

Find apps that work well with both Android and Apple devices to ensure everyone can connect easily.

Want to make someone’s Diwali celebration extra special this year?

When you and your loved ones can’t come together during Diwali, a gift of support to family members can make all the difference.

Even though you’re celebrating at home, you can make someone’s Diwali extra special by sending them a thoughtful gift. However, purchasing a gift and shipping it abroad might not be the best choice. After all, shipping costs add up. And it can take awhile for your gift to arrive.

A great alternative to shipping a gift is to send cash directly to loved ones. Sending money to India (or elsewhere) through an online service provider like Western Union is a great way to let someone know you care this holiday.

The Western Union online platform and mobile app are a breeze to use and facilitate quick, reliable transfers to major banks like State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and others. Or your recipient can pick up their Indian rupees at one of the 100,000-plus locations in India, making your money transfer easy for loved ones to receive your cash gift.

Celebrating Diwali at home FAQs

How can we decorate our home for Diwali celebrations?

Transform your home with Diwali decorations. Illuminate your space with diyas (oil lamps), create colorful rangoli patterns, and hang vibrant string lights. Add torans (door hangings), fragrant flowers, and an urli centerpiece for an authentic touch.

What activities can families do to celebrate Diwali at home?

Diwali is a time for family bonding. Engage in activities like lighting diyas and sparklers together, creating rangoli designs, watching Diwali-themed movies, and sharing traditional sweets. Don’t forget to dress up in your finest Indian attire. How can I connect with family abroad for Diwali celebrations?

Bridge the distance with technology. Use video calls, social media apps, or online platforms to connect with family and friends. Share Diwali greetings, participate in virtual celebrations, and exchange stories and memories.

What traditional foods are made during Diwali at home?

Diwali is a feast for the senses! Indulge in traditional sweets like laddoos and jalebis, and savor delicious dishes like samosas and biryani. Hosting a “puja potluck” with a variety of Indian dishes is also a popular tradition.