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 Deepavali preparations in New Jersey
It's that time of year again when vendors sell lamps, where homes undergo aggressive cleaning, and where children get leave from school. It's Deepavali time, and this year the festival of light falls on Saturday, October 21.
However, more than the celebration itself the work that has to be done ahead of time is now actively in progress. Homes are being rigorously cleaned and shopping being energetically completed. Saree shops have special sales, and are advertising discounts in the hope of enticing more customers to buy their products.
Remember one of the best Deepavali traditions? To buy new clothes for every member in the family? So, be it a saree, Kancheevaram, or synthetic silks, or be it salwar kameez, readymade, or to be stitched, it is time to get new clothes.
 Latika Gupta, manager of Saree Bazaar in Edison, New Jersey, commented that, "The weeks preceding Diwali, there is no time for anything, just sales, sales, and more sales."
Not only are there lots of customers, but there are also lots of good deals that surely the savviest consumer will notice. Salwar suits, chania cholis (lehengas), bangles, sherwanis and sarees seem to be the most popular items flying off the shelves. Latika added that "Mothers realise that kids or teens (children) are the priority during Diwali. So, their clothes are one of the things that are especially selling very fast."
Shiv Kumar Gupta, owner of the Saree Bazaar store, located at 1384 Oak Tree Road, Edison, New Jersey, added that, "Diwali is a festival of joy. Diwali gives the businessman anticipation to acquire more Lakshmi (money)."
Saree Bazaar is one of several Indian stores in the town of Edison, which is coming to be known as "Little India", in New Jersey. Little India's stores now are boasting awesome deals, that cater to all types of the population, Indian and even the interested Americans.
To add to the colorful tradition of new clothes, Deepavali is also the time to buy new clay lamps that a family will light and place around their homes, particularly at the doors and windows. These colorful lamps are not only a part of Deepavali in India they are also a part of Deepavali wherever Indians celebrate the occasion, in any part of the world.
Several websites offer Diwali lamps for sale that can be shipped to the US, UK, etc. Furthermore, in the US, several Indian grocery stores, have added them to the inventory of products they sell. In addition to the traditional lamps, nowadays newer battery-operated lamps and colorful lights are being lit around the house, giving a touch of modernity to the celebration of an age-old tradition.
Of course, shopping for clothes or lamps are not the only preparations that lead up to Deepavali. Cooking is an inherent part of Deepavali, and sampling of the Deepavali feast is not one to be missed. Mothers and daughters, and even some men, are joining in the cooking preparations. From preparing mouth-watering sweets like Mysore-Pak, Halwa, Gulab Jamun, and Laddu to making delicious snacks like Mixture, Kara Boondi, Kara Sev, and Ribbon
Pakora.
Kalyani Narayanan, whose culinary talents reward her family, said, "Deepavali is the time when I get to show off my cooking skills. I enjoy making Mysore-pak, Murukku, and Laddu. I prefer to eat what I make, rather than buying it."
For those who are interested in buying readymade snacks and savouries, there are many websites and stores, both in Chennai and in the US, that are ready and eager to sell their yummy products to customers.
These are the preparations currently going on in America. Let's wait and see how great, how much fun, how grand the actual holiday of Deepavali turns out to be.
Priyanka Narayanan
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