Diwali (Divali/Deepavali) - the festival of lights is one of the biggest festivals in India - celebrated across the country by Hindus. While being almost universally celebrated across the country - every region and community brings its own flavor to the celebrations. It is the time when India is at its festive best - decorative lights hang in households and commercial spaces alike. Diyas (oil lamps in earthen lamps) burn bright, colorful rangoli patterns adorn the entrances to households and mithai (dessert) is consumed in abundance.

Wikipedia does a great job of explaining the mythology, customs and celebrations about the festival.

I came alone to this country to attend graduate school. My first, living on campus with a final project due the next day was the worst Diwali I'd ever spent - homesick and stressed out - not celebrating at all. Crying over the phone to my parents, I realized that it was up to me to bring the 'light' into my home away from home on Diwali.

The next year I invited some friends over.  We cooked together, each making a dish, laughed and reminscied about Diwali at home. Fast forward to 2007 - this year I will be hosting my 8th Annual Diwali party. I have since gotten married and expanded my circle of friends. The number of attendees has grown up to 30+ people.

I have some Indian decorations and I have creatively used what is available here to make up for some others that I don't. My husband and I put up holiday lights, distribute candle lights all over the living room (instead of the diyas), put up the torans (decorative door hanging) and dye rock salt to 'create' rangoli. The evening of Diwali we go to the Indian temple to attend the Puja and come home to perform a mini-puja. On the closest Saturday to Diwali, we have an annual party where all the attendees bring an Indian dish and dance to Bollywood music, play cards and join in the festivities.



I usually send out home printed invitation cards and make my own 'gifts'. Diwali is the time to shop and give gifts in India - jewelry, clothes, cars, cameras, etc. The most popular gifts are 'envelopes' (with cash in them). The 'envelopes' are works of art in themselves - most are store bought - but some are homemade and well appreciated.

On this day of Diwali, I want to share envelope designs with you that you can print at home. They are Indian-inspired but will work for gift giving everywhere. (Standard A7 envelopes that will fit cash). You can enhance them by adding glitter, ribbons, crystals, etc.  Click on each design below to view the PDF file.

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