Deepavali, minus the family reunion: Meet the young Indians creating new traditions

Just a few years ago, Deepavali, for me as a student, was synonymous with a Kolkata homecoming — cousins reuniting, the scent of luchis wafting from the kitchen, the excitement of buying crackers and pandal-hopping on Kali Puja. As we grew older, and leave from work became harder to come by, the festival became quieter, often reduced to a phone call from home, and getting together with friends.Now that so many of us live far away from our hometowns for work or studies, the way we celebrate Deepavali has changed. The perception is that this is the lonliest time for the year for many people. However, it can also be an opportunity to recreate familiar traditions, and discovering ways to make a home away from home.Keeping tradition, changing the setting Tandra Choudhury | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Tandra Choudhury, a development practitioner who recently moved to Nagaland, says that Deepavali for her is all about a slow day and cooking something nice. “It’s been just over a month since I moved to Nagaland, and I will spend my day going for a stroll, finding a cute cafe, sipping tea and reading for a bit. I’d also like to visit one of the biggest churches here, which has a beautiful view of Kohima, and then come back home to light my diyas.”“There aren’t many temples around here, but I don’t think that should stop me. After all, God is God, whether you pray in a temple or a church. I feel like every place of worship has its own kind of peace, and ultimately, that’s what matters,” adds Tandra. Finding your festive tribe A Zostel property in Kochi | Photo Credit: ZOSTEL With more Indians travelling solo within the country, hostels are gaining popularity, offering an economic way to travel, have new experiences and form a community. “Deepavali used to mean going home. For a lot of young Indians, it now also means going somewhere for a few days, often alone, and often booked the same week,” says Aviral Gupta, CEO, Zostel, adding that their festive bookings are up over 15% this year, with about two out of three guests being Gen Z. He has seen the strongest growth in Kinnaur, Bir, and Varkala.Pranav Dangi, founder and CEO of backpacker hostel chain The Hosteller, points to regional differences in travel patterns during Deepavali. “In North India, bookings tend to be relatively lower during the festival, as many people prefer to celebrate with their families at home. In contrast, destinations across South India have recorded stronger occupancy during this period.”A quieter Deepavali for pets Kailash Srinivasan with his dog leo | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Kailash Srinivasan, a corporate banker based in Chennai, says that Deepavali for his family is taking a break from the city and celebrating the festival in a quieter setting, especially after welcoming a pet into their home. “We got a Golden Retriever about three years ago, and we spent one Deepavali in Chennai. Although our community has rules against bursting crackers within the complex, there were other complexes nearby that were bursting them, and he had a tough time with all the noise. So, we decided that from the following year we would travel. We usually go to Pondicherry, particularly Auroville, where the green surroundings and quieter atmosphere make it more comfortable for him.” Even though for Kailash and his family, Deepavali is about an escape, they do not miss out on the little traditions. “We wake up at our own pace, have a nice meal, dress up and take pictures. Since we are away from home, there isn’t much lighting of lamps, but we try to do something a day or two before leaving, putting up a few LED lights and lamps so that we still get to celebrate at home,” says Kailash. Give your lungs a break Vanathi Panneerselvam | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT For people living in Delhi, the rising Air Quality Index (AQI) at this time every year can become a reason to escape the city. Vanathi Panneerselvam, a lawyer, says she is planning to spend the festival somewhere closer to nature. “I’m hoping to get out of Delhi this Deepavali, partly to escape the pollution. I’m considering a bird sanctuary in Rajasthan or somewhere in Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh, where I can spend a few days surrounded by greenery,” she says. Manasvi Bhatia | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Lonavala, the hill station in Maharashtra known for its monsoon landscapes and historic forts, has long been a popular getaway for those looking to escape the bustle of Mumbai and Pune. For entrepreneur Manasvi Bhatia, who runs the boutique homestay House of Bliss Lonavala, the festive season is also a time when families seek a quieter retreat, often with their pets in town. The property has been part of her family since 1994, from around the time she was born. “When my parents bought it, it was just barren land surrounded by trees, right by the Indrayani River. They slowly turned it into our family holiday home, where we spent almost every weekend growing up. It was a place where we played outdoors, spent time with family and friends, and stayed away from screens,” she says. This festive season, the property is booked out by people who want to escape the city. A potluck, guitar and board games at homeFor many young professionals living away from home, Deepavali house parties have become a way to recreate the warmth of family celebrations with friends.Ragini Chauhan, a PR Professional who has been living in Mumbai for the past five to six years, hosts a party at her home every year, bringing together friends who have moved away but return to the city for the festive season. “My boyfriend and I put together a dinner, cook food, organise a potluck, and get some drinks and board games. But once someone brings out the guitar and everyone starts singing Bollywood songs, the board games are forgotten, and we end up singing and dancing all night,” she says. Gajar halwa cookies from Bhavana Murali’s house party | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Bhavana Murali, a communications manager born and brought up in Hyderabad, hosted her first Deepavali house party at her own home, which she bought earlier this year. Wanting to bring together friends from different circles, she put together an evening of food and drinks. “We had a snack counter with pani puri, samosas from Lamakaan, which is a popular cultural space in Hyderabad, and vadiyalu with dips instead of the usual chips and dip. We also had papdi chaat, followed by mutton and vegetable biryani for dinner. But the surprise hit was the gajar halwa cookies. A friend of mine, who is a home baker, made them for the first time after I asked her to come up with something festive rather than the usual chocolate or Biscoff flavours,” she says. Finding home Sreemathy Bhat | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “Growing up, Deepavali was never just about the diyas or the sweets. It was about the people who came with them. The noise in the house, the inevitable last-minute shopping, the collective confusion over what needed to be done next, the food that somehow never stopped appearing, and the general understanding that nobody was allowed to sit still for too long,” says Sreemathy Bhat, a journalist.Staying alone in Jaipur, she says, “changes the arrangement rather dramatically.” “I have learnt to make a little occasion out of things. To buy myself something nice without needing an excuse. To bring home sweets because I feel like eating them, not because someone is expected to visit. To light a diya simply because I want to. To dress up, or not dress up and do my favourite thing: market hopping,” says Sreemathy. She adds, “This Deepavali, I may not have a house full of people, but I have a home to return to, a city full of lights, and the underrated pleasure of being able to celebrate at my own pace.”