What does Diwali mean to Indian kids in Oman?

Modern day youth seem to feel increasingly isolated, despite the global connectivity of the digital age, something I think is doubly true for many expatriate children. So, with Diwali fast approaching, I decided to have a chat with a group of Indian expats between the ages of eight and 16 in Ruwi to ask them what they knew about the significance of the festival. As an expat born and raised in Oman myself, I remembered how important celebrations like Diwali were for me, providing a point of connection to the homeland of my parents, which somehow made me feel more rooted. I wondered if children today still felt the same way. So, I set out to see, and was pleasantly surprised to find that there was still a common thread of connection. Both to community and to the past, running through the Diwali musings of Muscat’s Indian children.
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Diwali to me is a celebration of happiness. It’s a festival that I love celebrating with my family and friends when we get together. I love the ceremonies and the traditions. And I love helping my mum in the kitchen. Last year, my entire building celebrated Diwali together, so all the adults and the children celebrated together and I had so much fun.” —Ravisha, aged 16

All your family and friends come together; it’s like a reunion. Just looking at the lights everywhere brings light to your soul. The whole area is lit up and it’s beautiful to look at. Not a single house is dull.” —Ishnika, aged 13

It’s a festival of joy, everything is fully lit, and the streets are filled with light and people.” —Santosh, aged 15

A lot of people come over, and we celebrate a lot during Diwali. Everyone’s house is very well decorated and they greet us very warmly. When I was nine, I remember going to my cousin’s house and all of us played with a lot of crackers and ate plenty of sweets.” —Sairishi, aged 14

I just love the sweets.” —Ipsha, aged 13

When I think Diwali, I think lights, I think festivities, I think of crackers and colours and brightness. I love the positive vibes that are created by people and the feeling of happiness everywhere. Because I’d never really celebrated Diwali properly before, my relatives made it really special when they came here some time ago. My grandma was here and she told me all the stories about why we celebrate Diwali.” —Shalmali, aged 14

A few years ago, I’d gone to my friend’s house and we stayed up till about 4am. It was really fun and we sang together and we ate really good food and played with these really big firecrackers. I really remember that celebration because I’d never done anything like it before and that was my last real good Diwali celebration.” —Christine, aged 13

It’s the clearing out the bad and replacing it with good, it represents God’s triumph over evil. At home, though, mom uses it as an excuse to make me clean my room. But the food is always a plus point.” —Esha, aged 15

It’s really colourful and we get to dress up in traditional clothes in school as well.” —Jerome, aged 18

My mother makes rangoli and delicious sweets and she lights lamps all across the house.” —Prithvi, aged 10