Holidays often represent a family’s most fond memories together. For me, Diwali is where I made some of my best memories with my family, memories that I’ll be able to cherish throughout my life. It is a holiday filled with lights, fireworks, food, family and traditions, but there is much more behind it than what you see. Every little part of Diwali has a meaning, and celebrating it gives me a way to connect with my family and my culture.
A few years ago, when I was little, I got the chance to celebrate Diwali in India. Before, I had only celebrated Diwali in the United States, but being in India made everything feel completely different. The celebration was bigger, louder and involved so many more people. Instead of just my family and a few friends, it felt like everyone around us was celebrating at the same time.
The first thing I noticed was the fireworks.
When you light one, you have to bring a candle close to it, light it and then quickly run away. There is excitement, but there is also that moment where you are waiting to see what will happen.
In India, everywhere you look you can see exploding fireworks. All you can see are different colors of lights. One of the fireworks I remember is a fountain, which shoots up into the sky and then sprinkles sparks down around it. The fireworks in India are much bigger and create more explosions and light than the fireworks in the United States where there are more restrictions on the types of fireworks that people can use.
The sound was impossible to ignore. All throughout the night, you could hear explosions and firecrackers.
My friend who lived in India for the first five years of his life, described the sound as “it’s more extreme [than in the U.S.]. People do many more things over there. The celebrations go crazier. The poojas are louder. It’s just another level from celebrations here in the U.S. … because obviously the whole population [is celebrating] there.”
Poojas are religious prayers often done as large groups at religious events.
Because of U.S. restrictions on fireworks, the celebrations I attended back home were much more subdued, and the holiday is relatively quiet.
It wasn’t only what I saw and heard that made Diwali in India different. It is often considered respectful for guests to bring their hosts sweets, either homemade or store-bought. After dinner, there would then be a whole variety of different sweets to choose from for dessert. But in the U.S. people bring all sorts of gifts like plants, so the desserts we have to choose from are the one or two types of sweets my mom cooks herself.
During the day, the smell of spices from food being prepared would spread throughout the house. Then, at night, the smell would change as smoke from fireworks filled the air.
Diwali in India felt like everyone around us was celebrating and having the time of their lives.
In the United States, Diwali usually is centered around my family and a few friends. We still clean and decorate the house, eat together, spend time with each other and light fireworks when we can. My friend described his own family’s Diwali traditions as going to the temple, lighting fireworks, taking pictures, decorating the house and cleaning together.
“We spend more time together than the rest of the year,” he said. “So it’s a special time of year where it’s a chance to be together.”
That is one of the things that makes Diwali meaningful to me. It creates a reason for everyone to be together.
The memories themselves are also part of what makes the holiday exciting.
One of my friend’s favorite memories was a fireworks show in his backyard when he was around three or four years old.
“As a kid, it was my first memory,” he said. “…it was the first time I was so close to them.”
Even though he remembered being scared because the fireworks were so close, it became one of his favorite memories of Diwali.
For me, some of my favorite memories come from celebrating with my own family. Lighting fireworks, eating sweets and being around everyone makes the holiday feel different and special. These activities are fun, but they also have a deeper meaning behind them.
The story behind Diwali is the story of Ram, a prince who was exiled from his kingdom. His wife, Sita, was kidnapped by the demon Ravana. Ram and his brother eventually defeated Ravana and rescued Sita. When Ram returned to his kingdom, the people celebrated by lighting lamps to welcome him home, which represented the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
Today, that idea continues through the lights, decorations and fireworks that are part of Diwali. The fireworks are not just something exciting to watch. They represent the celebration of that victory and are connected to a story that has been a part of Hindu culture for hundreds of years.
My friend said he remembers learning about the story of Ram and his victory over Ravana when he was younger. He eventually learned more about it himself, saying that he discovered the story while watching YouTube because he was interested in mythology.
Diwali is one of many holidays he celebrates of his three religions. For him, celebrating different religions means being able to experience traditions that not everyone gets to experience.
“My family has a very complicated history,” he explained. “We’re from many different diasporas. So I’m mixed in with all of these … I’m able to celebrate all these fun holidays and learn about new cultures.”
That idea is something I also connect with when I think about Diwali. I want people from different cultures, especially people who have never celebrated Diwali, to understand why it means so much to Hindu people. Diwali is exciting because of the fireworks. It is special because of the food. It is memorable because of the lights. But, most importantly, it is a time to bond with your family.
When I look back at celebrating Diwali in India and the celebrations I have had in the United States, I realize that the location does not change what makes the holiday important. Whether there are thousands of people celebrating around you or just your family and friends, the meaning remains.
The lights remind us of the victory of good over evil. The traditions connect us to history. For me, Diwali is more than just a celebration. It is a way to remember the time I spent with my family and friends and the memories I made.
Devansh was a fellow in the 2026 Story Gathering Workshop, a program that gives young writers the opportunity to publish an article for our news outlet, Voices.
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