Pooja Thanawala's family indulges in the bursting of firecrackers in all its grandeur. She says it is like a full show with a wide variety of fancy crackers that cost at least Rs 20,000 - Rs 25,000. Photos Courtesy: Pooja Thanawala/Diya Maniar
Thanawala says they decorate the house as if there is a wedding. Once every two years, they go buy decorations but otherwise make their own. The celebrations which start with family and friends with lunch, dinner and get-togethers go on for almost two weeks
Such is their celebration that the family decides on a theme that every member has to follow while dressing up for the occasion. With such enthusiasm, they didn't even let the Covid-19 pandemic spoil their Diwali celebrations, as they celebrated it virtually in more ways than one.
While they celebrate the other days of Diwali, they take it a step further by celebrating Tulsi Vivah (Krishna marrying Tulsi) uniquely. They divide the family into a bride and groom team, and it is as good as God's wedding with decor, food and welcoming the groom by the ladkiwalas.
Their celebrations are incomplete without food. Being Gujaratis, Thanawala says they love food and eating different kinds of specialities. The preparation starts a month in advance and they make chivda, ghughra (sweet with mawa and all dry fruit powders), kaju katri, kaju roll, chakri, cholafali, mathiya, dal nuth, sev, gathiya and magas laddoo among others.
While Thanawala has a large celebration, Diya Maniar and her family also love celebrating the festival in different ways. The Maniars come together for a prayer while doing the Diwali Pooja. They gather to light diyas and also indulge in other cultural traditions like making the rangolis and even bursting crackers
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