By Tn Lifestyle Desk
Copyright timesnownews
The essence of Diwali is often associated with the return to home and bringing gifts, sweets, and love to share with family. However, for many who stay away from home, this is not always possible. Staying away from family can be isolating. The feeling is a mix of nostalgia and loneliness, marked by the absence of familiar decorations, rituals, and home-cooked food. Yet in these moments of sadness, the power of friendships comes to shine. Friends turn into family to celebrate the festival of lights and remind us what Diwali is truly about – love and togetherness. People celebrate the festival by hosting Diwali parties and practising rituals with their friends. While they participate virtually through video calls in their family festivities, it is the friends near them who bring them the warmth of home. As the city lights up, decorations are hung, and the aroma of fresh sweets fills the air, one is compelled to miss the celebrations back home. In such times, the faces that were once strangers unite to embrace the festivities and make it an enjoyable, joyous time. From decorating their homes with ornaments and flowers to organising full-blown parties, people are going all out to celebrate Diwali. Lighting diyas, doing pooja and playing games with friends make it an excellent time for bonding. The age-old tradition of people going around neighbourhoods to gift sweets and snacks has now been redefined by giving gifts to friends to keep the Diwali spirit alive. Festivals are the best way of sharing culture, especially when abroad. Friends from different ethnicities and religions come together to celebrate Diwali, making it a time of togetherness and love beyond boundaries. It is in these moments that relationships form and connections deepen, forcing the sadness away as the air fills with love. Ultimately, Diwali is about coming together and sharing love. Being away from home reminds us that warmth can not only be found in the comfort of our homes but also with friends who come together. The people who love, trust, and support each other become family, making the festival of lights shine just as brightly as it would back home.