Latika Alok, who was born and grew up in London, has fond memories of celebrating Diwali (as Deepavali is called in North India) in the cosmopolitan city.

Celebrations for this festival (which falls on 26 October)  involve the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Ganesh, the god of auspicious beginnings.

Family and friends

She recalls: “We are North Indian and Diwali marks one of the most important celebrations in our calendar. My memories of Diwali as a child involved spring cleaning our house and decorating every nook and corner, inside and outside. Our house, for a few weeks leading up to the festival, was always full of friends and family."

“We lit small clay lamps, signifying the triumph of good over evil, and welcoming prosperity and well being. We would also wear new clothes, and I remember my mother making our favourite foods, and lots of Indian sweets and special snacks so that we could share them with family and friends.

“She would make a lot of savoury items using different flours like gram flour and plain flour, and most of them were fried. She also made yummy Indian sweets from milk powder. Back then you could not buy a lot of these items in the shops.”

Since Latika and her senior media executive husband moved to Singapore 18 years ago when he relocated for work, celebrations have been slightly different.

Holiday

For one, she is glad that Diwali is considered a public holiday here.

“As a family, we are able to devote a lot more time to decorating the home. In India and Singapore, the concept of “open house” is very popular.

“This was not possible in London because of the distances [people have to travel],” she explains.

“Here, we are able to make our visit to friends and family that day and share in all their festivities. Our children Nikhil, 13, and Anneka, 11, get together with friends and play with sparklers, which they enjoy.

“Anneka, of course, really enjoys dressing up in her new Indian clothes and helping me to do the rangoli decorations, the flower and coloured-powder decorations featuring religious and geometrical motifs.

“These serve as an invitation to goddess Lakshmi to enter and bless the home.”

Blessings sought

Latika, who runs Glitterati, a fashion boutique specialising in haute couture evening wear, also carries out a small ceremony there to seek the blessings of the wealth goddess Lakshmi for a good year ahead.

She would dress the statue in garlands, and make offerings of sweets to it. She will also place her accounts books in front of the statue for them to be blessed, and light clay lamps outside the boutique.

Adds Latika: “Singapore is a very cosmopolitan city, and all religions are respected. I love the way Little India is lit up and decorated. We really enjoy going down to the Diwali markets that are set up, to soak in the atmosphere of the festival.

“Even though my children go to an international school, they still learn about Diwali and often come back with handcrafted gifts.”

Her parents, who still live in London, do not join Latika’s family in the celebrations in Singapore.

Says the 40-something: “We call and wish them on Diwali day and get their blessings. My parents are traditional and they don’t believe in leaving their home empty during Diwali as they say that Goddess Lakshmi does not visit an empty home!”

* This article was written by Tina Wang and first published in Singapore Magazine (Oct-Dec 2010 issue).

Main photo by weegolo on Flickr.