Having grown up in Nigeria and London, I have never lived in my homeland of India. Sindhi [from Sindh, a region now in Pakistan] by origin, our ancestors were dispersed around the globe during the India-Pakistan partition in 1947. Most were not able to take their belongings with them, but they held their traditions and values in their hearts to pass on for generations. We have been the beneficiaries of this. 

Dressed in festive Indian clothes, we begin the Diwali season by hosting a puja [prayer] at our workplace, invoking Goddess Lakshmi to bless our business. For three nights, starting from Dhanteras, we decorate our entrance with garlands, light up our home with candles and diyas and fill our vases with fresh flowers. We believe in making our home beautiful for Goddess Lakshmi to visit and bless our family. Diwali day is marked by a family puja at home, following the auspicious astrological timing given by the priest. Everyone eats homemade sweet mithai, which represent happiness for the coming year. Diwali dinner is vegetarian and our meal always includes a dal [lentil dish] with seven different vegetables, representing abundance and prosperity. We send homemade vegetarian sweets to family and friends with generous intentions, which is what Goddess Lakshmi embodies. Diwali celebrations culminate in gatherings with family and friends, Indian music and dancing, playing cards and lighting fireworks. 

Diwali is one of our family’s favourite times of the year. Our Diwali day starts in the morning at home, where the men dress in kurtas [a traditional loose garment], and women dress in sari or lehenga [traditional outfits worn for celebratory occasions]. There is always excitement in the air. Then we do prayers in the office. After all, Diwali is the celebration of light over darkness, and something we try to instil not only at home but at work also.

Following office prayers, we go home and continue our prayers. This is where we light 50 diyas, and place them in every corner of the house—[we light an] extra one for good luck. After prayers, the fun begins! Everyone changes into formal Indian dress, and we soon begin to welcome close family and friends at home. We sip on champagne, play with sparklers and sometimes even play some poker for good luck. Then, we all enjoy a feast.

My wife, Sarika, always prepares a decadent meal served on large silver thali [trays]. Some of my favourite dishes are dahi vada [lentil dumplings with spiced yoghurt] and a raw mango curry which is best eaten with dal poori [spiced flatbread]. I love dinner time on Diwali because the conversation is always filled with banter among close family and friends—one of the things I often look forward to every year. Soon after eating, and after a couple of nightcaps, we call it a night, excited about what the new year has to offer. 

Every year, our Diwali celebrations begin with our home pujas—a cherished tradition that brings our family together to offer prayers for a prosperous new year ahead.

We extend the festivities to our workplace, where our office is beautifully adorned with vibrant flowers and traditional decorations. We pray and present gold coins to the younger members of our family, symbolising our wish for them to have a blessed and prosperous year. As the day unfolds, we head to my house for our annual Diwali dinner celebration. I take great pleasure in carefully planning every aspect, especially the tablescape, where I love to incorporate design elements such as rangoli or different variations of flowers. Each year, we use the same Diwali china that I selected many years ago, which holds a special place in my heart.

Our Diwali dinner is delightful. We stick to traditional Diwali staples like sweet boondi [fried flour balls], Sindhi curry and seven bhajis [fried flat cakes or balls of vegetables]. These dishes evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort, reminding me of the significance of the festival. We end the evening with sweet treats that I pick out carefully because everyone has their own favourite. We conclude our Diwali celebration feeling full and grateful.

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