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We're the only Indian family on our block. Diwali feels lonely when there are no diyas in other windows, no crackers, no community aarti. My kids (8 and 5) don't understand why 'their festival' isn't as big as Christmas. How do you make Diwali special in the US?
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This hit home. Here's what we do that makes it feel BIG for our kids: 1. **Invite the neighbors** — we throw a Diwali open house with samosas, chai, and sparklers. Our American neighbors LOVE it and now look forward to it every year 2. **Go ALL OUT on decorations** — more diyas and lights than anyone's Christmas display. Our house literally glows. The kids feel so proud 3. **School presentation** — we help our kids present about Diwali in class, bring in Indian sweets for their friends 4. **Community Diwali mela** — most cities with even a small Indian population have one. It's worth driving an hour for 5. **Diwali morning puja** — proper Lakshmi puja with the kids participating, new clothes, rangoli at the door 6. **Diwali gifts** — we do Diwali gifts just like Christmas gifts. The kids wake up to presents. Our kids now tell their friends 'Diwali is better than Christmas because we get gifts AND fireworks AND sweets.' Make it magical and they'll never feel like they're missing out.
We started a 'Diwali on the Block' tradition — we give little goodie bags of Indian sweets and a Diwali card to every house on our street. Now 4 other families (non-Indian) put up diyas and lights during Diwali. Kids feel so seen when the whole neighborhood participates, even in a small way.
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