Diwali in My New Home
Written by Shachi Kaushik and illustrated
by Aishwarya Tandon
Beaming Books, 2022
Priya has moved to America from
India. Today is Diwali, a favorite Hindu holiday. She is excited as she thinks
about the celebration.
But she is saddened to look out
the window and see no decorations. She remembers how her school in India
celebrated the holiday. The halls were decorated. Everyone wore traditional
outfits, made cards, and sang songs. Here, no one seems to know about the
holiday.
She goes home and smells cardamom,
an Indian spice, and warm ghee, butter. Her mother is baking.
“It smells like Diwali,” she
says.
She helps her mother clean house.
She remembers her grandmother saying, “Goddess Lakshmi always visits a clean
and decorated house.”
She sits on the front steps making
a flower as a rangoli with colorful sand. A rangoli is supposed to bring luck
and happiness.
Neighbors come by and compliment
her work. They also comment on the delicious aromas coming from the house.
Later, Priya and her father
decorate the house with lights. Again, neighbors come by and ask if they are
decorating early for Christmas. Priya explains it is for Diwali, the festival
of lights. Papa invites them to come back later to celebrate with them.
Priya and her parents change into
traditional costumes. They say prayers, and light clay lamps, the diyas, and
incense sticks in front of figurines of Hindu deities.
The neighbors come and celebrate
with them. Priya is happy again, and thinks, “It feels like Diwali.”
The children play with sparklers
outdoors. Fireworks are Priya’s favorite part of the celebration.
“This Diwali isn’t the same as in
India,” Priya thinks, “but it’s Diwali in my new home.”
At the back of the book, there
are two pages giving information about the Diwali holiday. There is also a
glossary defining words used in the book.
The illustrations by Aishwarya
Tandon are colorful and bright. They will draw children into the story.
“Diwali in My New Home,” introduces
American children to the popular Hindu holiday Diwali. Diwali happens in
October or November on the night of a full moon. It is celebrated on the third
day of the five-day festival.
On this day, Lord Rama, his wife
Sita, and his brother Lakshman came back to his kingdom Ayodhya after spending
14 years in exile. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good
over evil, and hope over despair.
In America, Indian organizations
host events for Diwali. Most cities have these events.
About the Author
Shachi Kaushik is a
children’s media enthusiast, writer, and storyteller. Raised in India, she
currently lives in Vancouver with her husband. This is her debut picture book.
About the Illustrator
Aishwarya Tandon is an
illustrator and cartoonist. She holds a bachelor of science and an honors
degree in animation and multimedia from the Birla Institute of Technology.
Aishwarya lives in India.