New York city is all lit up this time keeping the Diwali spirit high and enjoying as much as they would back home. Diwali cards, Diwali Puja material, Diwali sales in New York — this could just as well be Chandni Chowk, Delhi but Jackson Heights, New York is a hub for the Indian community here and the place they all visit to recreate at least part of the Diwali spirit they enjoyed so much back home.
Jay Gada — (Student who has been in America just a year), "Diwali is something that we used to spend a lot of time, we used to enjoy a lot in India. So, the same kind of enthusiam we need to try to build up over here."
Vincent Crasta — says (been in America 30 years , runs a sweet shop),"Sale definitely goes up than the regular sale because lot of people buy a lot of sweets."
Preparations for Diwali here are nearly as intense as they are in India. There’s everything here, from Diwali mithai to diyas to shopping for new jewelry but the only two things missing as Indians say are firecrackers and the fact that Diwali here is not an official holiday.
Hema Sukhija, been in America 4 years says –"I feel bad like you know we should also get like some holidays out here, maybe a day or two. That would be good."
Sashwat Butala, owner of Butala Emporium, which sells lots of Diwali specific items says "Hopefully we will have Diwali also as a special holiday also in America..we think it should be because a large Indian community living here..they are taking good part in American society, so it should be."
The business community in Jackson Heights has been lobbying hard to make Diwali a National Holiday. In the meantime, the crackle of fireworks might be missing but all the other festivities are in place.
Leave Your Comments