Bahrain celebrate Diwali in great style with colours, lights, food and shopping

TDT | Manama                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

To thousands of Indian expatriates in Bahrain, Diwali celebrations are one of the ways to affirm the link towards Indian heritage.

Indian families, every year, put in concerted efforts to make the festival special for them and the young ones. The general traditions followed by Indian families in Bahrain while celebrating Diwali include performing ritual prayers, decorating the house with lights, along with drawing rangolis.

Taking family photos and exchanging gifts have also become integral parts of the celebrations. One interesting aspect of the celebrations is that the traditions brought to Bahrain by the Indian expatriates have endured with the young generation, something which makes the elderly Indians really proud of.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Bahrain resident Sudeep Deshpande, a renowned artist and an architectural consultant, says Diwali is unique in many forms. “Unlike all festivals, I have always felt Diwali is one such festival where celebration blends with togetherness.

“As a child, it is the celebration that matters to us, in terms of sweets, delicious food and burning crackers. But when we grow up, Diwali becomes an occasion of solidifying family and social ties.” Taking a nostalgic trip down the lane, he said: “The peculiar memory I have is the aroma of firecrackers, which fills the air during Diwali celebrations.

Being an artist, Diwali embodies a lot of colors and energy, which gives me an enthusiasm to paint. “My family consisting of eight cats, along with friends are all set to celebrate this year’s Diwali in a big way.

“Diwali is the festival of lights. It is also the occasion of lighting up hopes and positivity. Every diya reflects the hope of life and highlights the necessity to live one’s life to the fullest. In today’s times, to be able to live with your loved ones is the greatest blessing.”

Bahrain resident Sumithra Prashanth, who hails from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, says various distinct flavours and traditions embellish Diwali celebrations in the state. “Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is a great occasion for massive celebrations in Tamil Nadu. In my place, the preparations begin a week ahead of Diwali.

All the members of the family come together and prepare a wide variety of sweets and savories to be shared with families and friends. “On the day of the festival, all family members wake up early around 4 am and perform Ganga Snanam, a traditional ritual of applying herbal oil over the body followed by a shower, after which pooja ceremonies are conducted..

“During the course of the day we meet and greet friends with sweets and savories. Women at home prepare a special herbal concoction named ‘Diwali Lehyam’, which will be fed to all family members for internal cleansing and detoxification post which families come together and have lunch with great joy.

Kids and family members get decked up in colourful attires. “Before the break of dusk, the lamps are lit in and around the house and crackers are burst with family and friends and the fun and frolic continues throughout the night.”

Sumithra said it has been an overwhelming experience to see the enthusiasm with which Diwali is celebrated in the Kingdom. “Here in Bahrain the festival is celebrated almost as similar to that in India highlighting the fact that Bahrain is a great nation and extremely expat friendly when it comes to inclusivity.

“We, here, generally celebrate Diwali with friends and relatives. The planning begins well in advance with cleaning and decorating the house with lights. Indian shops and supermarkets offer a wide variety of sweets and other Diwali items.

“Diwali shopping is one special affair we really enjoy. We all wear traditional clothes and light up diyas. We also host many guests throughout the week as part of Diwali celebrations.” All prominent retail brands in the Kingdom and Indian stores have Diwali shopping offerings. Shoppers can buy a wide range of Diwali products including earthen lamps, decorative items and other Diwali goodies across the Kingdom.