The Diwali That Was…

The Coconut Laddus I made, the Gulab Jamuns were from a can of Haldiram’s.

Work-in-progress. The empty spaces are for nuts to be filled at the last minute to retain their crunch.

The Uruli was filled with water, rose petals were sprinkled and rose-shaped candles floated.

Alu Gobhi was made with lots of fresh peas, while the Dahi Vada was chilled.

Fresh flowers and potted plants were paired with candles and diyas to create a Diwali atmosphere at Apartment 408, our home.
Fresh sheets and cushion covers were brought out to give the evening a touch of India.

A touch of India also meant some traditional Indian flavors and colors. And gifts.

Candles, diya and strings of lights glittered our home. We were finally ready to welcome our friends to our home for Diwali.

Happy Diwali to everybody. Its now time to think Christmas and New Year’s.

More Diwali-related photos from PreeOccupied are here.

Supermarket Find

I was pleasantly surprised and almost beaming from ear to ear when I found these in a leading Canadian supermarket here in TO.

I am talking about the clay diyas. The symbol of Diwali. The epitome of grace.

I brought back a couple of boxes of them CAD 2.99 each. We Bengalis light 14 clay lamps (chhoddo pradip) the evening before Diwali to offer our gratitude to our forefathers. Its a tradition my Mum has been following, and now I am starting to do so. Though its very difficult to remember or know the names of our ancestors.

On Diwali, we Indians go full throttle with all kinds of decorative candles and diya. Call it coincidence or planned connivance, but I even made a couple of hand pinched diyas last week in my Pottery Class!

Enjoy your Diwali shopping and buy lots of Diyas, they are forever to stay in your hearts and cameras.