Though known as the festival of lights, Diwali is all about family bonding, welcoming in the New Year with your loved ones and feasting on homemade traditional delights. Being the most important festival in the Hindu calendar, Indian families in the UK go all out and celebrate the festival with as much chutzpah and reverence as they would back home in India.
When Uma came to London in 1974, as a teenager, she missed the excitement of Diwali. “It was my first Diwali here in the UK and I had to go to school, which in India is unheard of because it’s a holiday and we spend it with the family!”
But as time went by and she got married, she ensured that she celebrated every Diwali in a grand manner with her in-laws. “Diwali is a special occasion and my family of 35 and I ensure every year we all come together to cook, eat, dance, celebrate and make the most of Diwali.”
Initially, she was stressed about whether her children would also follow the Diwali traditions like she did when growing up, but not anymore. “The youngest in our family is 10 years old and the oldest is 84 and it’s amazing to see the same enthusiasm for Diwali across the generations. What has made it easier for us to teach these traditions in our children is that unlike in the 70’s, supermarkets today, such as Asda, have a wide Diwali range, which makes us feel accepted as a community and makes it easier for our children to follow the same traditions. I feel Asda recognises the importance of the four days of Diwali and what the festival means to us as a community.” Last year, she hosted her entire family of 35 at home.
While Asda helped Uma with the perfect Diwali package for her family, especially her kids – for Manavi Maharshi the supermarket gave her a sense of belonging.
With her brother and sister-in-law moving to London recently, she now ensures that she follows her mother’s traditions, whether it comes to making mathris or besan ka laddoos, so that she can make them feel at home as well. She does this by popping into her nearest Asda and picking up the ingredients.
While some try to recreate the festive feel of India here in the UK, for others Diwali in the UK is a whole new experience. When Manisha came here five years ago, she was surprised to see her mother-in-law cooking everything from scratch during Diwali.
“Last year we had a big Diwali dinner at home, and guess what was on the menu? My favourite Besan Barfi and everyone loved it! When people praise your cooking, it makes you feel proud of yourself.
“Being Punjabi, we also had chole bathure on the menu. From the chickpeas to the gram flour, Asda had all the ingredients on offer, which made it so simple for me to cook. This year, we have relatives coming over again. What’s on the menu? Well, that’s a secret but I can tell you one thing, I have found all my ingredients at Asda!”
