Q: Diwali celebrations seem to be in full swing in the US and Canada [ http://www.garamchai.com/Diwali2007.htm ] What is the significance of the festival to Non Resident Indians (NRIs)?
A: This tyohar brings a warm feeling to us NRI's that bring back a memory of home. It tells us that no matter where in the world we may be, we will always be blessed by god and good will always triumph over evil. When we light up our houses with divai, our house stands out compared to the other houses, which gives us a fealing that we may be different, but that doesn't mean we don't remember our roots. Diwali is a time for story telling and spending quality time with your family. By celebrating this festival we remind ourselves that no matter how pardesi we may be, at the end of the day a Bharat-vasi, will remain a Bharat-vasi. Essentially Diwali also commemorates light beating darkness. When gorai join our celebrations, it tells us that no matter how many religions and castes there may be, everyone will always be a part of one religion, humanity. Over-all, Diwali is a time to enjoy and pray and dance and sing your worries away. It's not that different from RI's. DIL DIYA HAI JAAN BHI DEINGE EH VATAN TERE LIYE