To celebrate Diwali alone goes against the very core of the Hindu celebration of light.
Yet that is exactly what thousands of families across the Metro Vancouver have turned to amid a rising tide of pandemic restrictions.
“It’s been disheartening not going to the big celebration and feeling the cultural energy. A lot of us who have immigrated from different parts of the world, our traditions have become westernized,” said Vishad Deeplaul, who immigrated to Coquitlam from South Africa five years ago with his son and husband. “It’s nice to go to these because it grounds you in who you really are.”
Celebrated every year in October or November when there’s no moon in the sky, Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness, hope over despair and knowledge over ignorance. Often running five days, it is for many the single most important celebration in the Hindu calendar.
Families light clay lanterns known as diya and adorn their homes with bright colours. One of the most important parts of the celebrations is to renew social connections by visiting family and delivering sweet meats, chocolates and gifts.
For Deeplaul, all of that is off the table this year.
Instead, he’s hired companies to deliver chocolates, painted lanterns with his son with the help of a YouTube workshop, and even helped lead a symbolic lighting of the diya at Coquitlam city hall in the lead up to Nov. 14.
“It’s finding the silver linings and finding ways to connect. There’s nothing wrong with FaceTime, making it work,” he said.
Part of his enthusiasm comes from his work with United Way in the Tri-Cities. Since the start of the pandemic, he’s been helping people stay connected, as well as organizing volunteers to help shop for others who are short on groceries or medications.
But with the arrival of Diwali, the community building has taken on a more personal meaning. Back home in South Africa, Deeplaul said a few of the elders in his family have passed away due to COVID-19. In a country where there are limited resources to fight a public health crisis, it’s made him appreciate how good the community has it here.
“We will take safety over gathering because that’s more important,” said Deeplaul.
Or as a friend in the Tri-Cities put it to him recently, “This Diwali we need to stay apart so when we come together no one is missing.”
The father has already noticed some positive sides to socially distant celebrations. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, his son celebrated a birthday but, instead of inviting friends, the parents put on a massive Zoom party with all their family back home in South Africa.
“It doesn’t stop us from reaching out to our families across the world,” he said.
The whole experience offers a glimpse of what the upcoming holiday season may look like if COVID-19 cases don’t begin to fall across the Lower Mainland. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, the New Year or just enjoy a good meal with family, those navigating their way through Diwali also offer a lesson in patience and humour.
“Christmas, no matter what religion or culture, celebrates in some shape and form. I said this year, COVID is like the Grinch who stole Christmas,” laughed Deeplaul.
•Experience your own virtual Diwali at diwalifest.ca.
