Learning about the festival of lights

Cultural exchange

With the festival of lights just around the corner, the City got a taste of the celebrations at a workshop on Deepavali for the Sakuraki Japanese Women’s Association organised by the India Japan Initiative. The session saw many Japanese women, residents of Bangalore, coming to learn more about India’s one of the most popular festivals. As the women gathered together, one could easily see the great deal of enthusiasm they shared. “I have been here for about three months now and will be celebrating the festival with the people in my apartment in Whitefield,” said Ayako Barstad, a housewife.

It was indeed an informative event for these women and they made the best use of it. “I was not present here last year for Deepavali as my family and I had gone abroad for a trip. But I am really interested in knowing what Deepavali is all about,” said Miyuki Kondo, who has been in India for over a year.

The session was conducted by Bhargavi Satyan, who gave information on the concept of Deepavali, the rituals and the customs associated with this elaborate festival. It started  with a visual presentation where she explained the history of the festival and the various legends associated with it in the different parts of the country.  The interesting part of the presentation was when she went on to describe the food and the variety of sweets served during the festival which surely made everyone hungry.  Most of the ladies present had been living in the City for almost a year and were gearing up to celebrate their first Deepavali here.

“I saw the Deepavali here last year and was interested in knowing more about it. Especially about the Rangoli,” said Hiromi Kokemizu, a housewife. She added that she would be a little cautious of the crackers since they could be dangerous. Rangoli surely was a popular activity which got everyone excited. Bhargavi designed a Rangoli herself to keep the session interactive and the ladies excitedly joined in, making paper lantern and decorating diyas to get a first-hand feel of this popular festival.

Miho Malhan, a writer who has been staying in Bangalore for over five years says she is quite familiar with it already.

 “I am married to an Indian, so my in-laws come down from Delhi every year for the festival. We have puris and black chana on Deepavali day,” she said. The day ended on a good note with the women going back with a lot of knowledge on the culture of the country and hoping to celebrate Deepavali in their homes.