My very Cypriot Diwali

Limassol -Cyprus. Diwali 2009 - the Indian festival of lights

Another Cyprus Diwali* like in the past 12 years, celebrated with our Cypriot and other non-Indian friends. It is a ritual and tradition we have kept unbroken, not only because it means so much to us but because now it means so much to our friends in Cyprus.

They question us about the exact date for a month before; they turn down other important invitations; schedule their travels to accommodate it; they tell us and the world that ‘it is the biggest event in their calendar before their Christmas’; they make an effort to dress Indian for the evening; they share our Indian vegetarian fare eagerly; and they just generally bring our home alive with their warmth and the true spirit of Diwali.

Everyone from a 4 year old to a 50 year old comes not just to a party, but to celebrate Diwali.The new ones into the fold show a flattering curiosity about  the significance of each thing from our clothes to the food we eat for diwali and the rituals we perform. I couldn’t expect more eager and enthusiastic guests in India. It warms my heart to see them trying to do everything right for us - dress, eat, and light sparklers and candles- the way they have learnt from us over the years.

As I look around my living room on Diwali evening cocooned in the love of my friends in a distant foreign land, a profound truth dawns on me. Each person around me is so different from me in faith, colour, caste and creed and yet so same. What bonds us together is that we respect our differences and embrace them. There are people a lot wiser than me in international affairs who go to summits to solve world problems. But I and my friends in Cyprus could teach them a thing or two about people and communities. Issues are always there and it is not difficult to rake them at any given time. What is required is to shift the spotlight on to more meaningful things and underline the similarities rather than the differences. And then to accept, respect and enjoy the differences. Who wants to live in a world of clones where everyone is identical living exactly the same kind of life…

This Diwali as my little 4 year old guest came upto me in her Indian clothes proudly showing me the little red dot she had put on her forehead and telling me that she had worn her scarf like I wear mine, my eyes misted. And I was reminded once again of how lucky I was to be sharing my life with the wonderful people of Cyprus.

Vandana G

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*Diwali is the Indian festival of lights which comes in October or November according to the lunar calendar. It is the most important event in the Hindu calendar. The festival is socio religious having its origin in the Hindu Holy book Ramayana and is celebrated with great fervour for almost a week prior to the day itself by people in India and Indians all over the world. People wear traditional costumes, cook sweets and savouries, visit friends and relatives and on the day itself light candles and fireworks.

[Published in Cyprus Mail on October 23, 2009]