South Asian Londoners get set for festival of lights

Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists in London, Ont., and around the world are celebrating the festival of lights, also known as Diwali.

Diwali marks the start of new beginnings

Angela McInnes CBC News Posted: Nov 04, 2021 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: November 4, 2021

Heni Gandhi and Smit Patel work for Bombay Spices, an Indian grocery store in east London. They hold diyas, clay lamps lit during Diwali. (Angela McInnes/CBC)

Today Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists in London, Ont.,and others around the world are celebrating the festival of lights, also known as Diwali.

The five-day festival began on Nov. 2. The day of Diwali falls on the new moon, and signifies the start of a new year in the Hindu calendar. Celebrations continue into Nov. 6.

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"In the pandemic, people were not able to go to their relative's homes due to the restrictions. This time, everything is under control and people are really crazy for it," said Smit Patel, who works at Bombay Spices grocery store in London.

"They're superiorly happy. I can see it in their faces. They're buying a lot of stuff and it's really good."

Heni Gandhi serves an offering of traditional Diwali sweets including kaju katli, dry fruit rolls, soan papadi and halwa. (Angela McInnes/CBC)

Patel said Bombay Spices sells essential Diwali items like colourful decorations, oil lamps called diyas, and sweets to exchange with loved ones.

Popular sweets include kaju katli (diamond-cut cashew cake), dry fruit rolls, soan papdi (ghee cakes), and halwa (toasted semolina).

"Diwali is celebrated because one of our gods, Lord Rama, returned after 14 years of exile to his home. People set off fireworks just to celebrate him," said Patel.

Patel said that for all the ample stock Bombay Spices has, he expects it to be sold out by the end of the week.

Diwali also a 'grounding time' for some

Across the street at the Nepali Bazaar grocery store, Dr. Nadia Mohammed Vashist stocked up on diyas for her family, and prepared to celebrate her first Diwali without her grandfather.

Dr. Nadia Mohammed Vashist stocks up on Diwali items for her family at Nepali Bazaar. (Angela McInnes/CBC)

"Because our family is sort of separated right now, some of us are in Toronto, some of us are in Florida, it's sort of a little bit less of a celebration and more of a grounding time for us," she said.

This year's holiday has taken on a different meaning forMohammed Vashist.

But she said it is an opportunity to create new memories with her young sonand introduce him to his heritage.

"Theseare lights that you would light in the night," she said of shopping for the diyas, "for your ancestors to come find you. So that's why I'm here."

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