p-scribblez: Diwali in USA

October is about to end in few days. October marks the starting of festive season both in US and in India. Beginning of October I was quite mesmerized here by the fall colors that came up on the trees before they shed all their leaves. The month also started with Durga Puja, followed by karva and then Diwali. This is my first Diwali in US and I was quite skeptical about how it will happen. New York City had its Diwali street fair on 1st of October - so early because in NYC fireworks are not allowed after 15th of October every year accept on new year's eve.

In whole of New Jersey and New York area various Indian Communities and Temples were celebrating Diwali by organising some sort of get together and Aartis, like ISKON of New Jersey had two day festival comprising of Aartis, Bhajan, Bhog etc. Same with Durga Mandir in South Brunswick and Sanatan Mandir in Parsippany.

We here at Parsippany/Morris Plains had a small get together at one of our friend's place. We called for a Potluck dinner which means everybody will bring some dish from there home and contribute. On staurday evening i.e. Diwali day we had small puja at home followed by lighting of Diyas and Dinner and an Adda session till late in the night.

puja darbar

Diyas

Diwali Celebrations continued on Sunday with a matinee show of DON at Edison and awesome desi dinner at an amazing Pakistani restaurant - Shalimar in Edison. Those days Shalimar had extra tables for sweets because of Diwali and Eid. It looked all similar to the situation we have at sweet shops in India. Before all this we lit Diyas on Diwali eve also i.e. a day before Diwali marked as Choti Diwali. Thanks to the Indian store in Parsippany, it was never an hassle in getting Diyas and different varieties of sweets. Missing on this auspicious day in US were family and Crackers :-)