SBS staff celebrate as we enter the 2024 Festival of Lights
Diwali, also known as Deepavali or Tihar, is a significant festival of lights celebrated by communities across many countries including India, Nepal, Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad, Tobago, Australia and many others.
The name comes from the Sanskrit term “Dipavali,” which means “rows of light.” This festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, and for many, it marks a time for new beginnings. It’s a special occasion for families, friends, and loved ones to come together in celebration.
At SBS, we cherish the opportunity to celebrate this incredible festival with various communities and cultures through a range of events, delicious food, and heartwarming stories shared across our channels and online platforms.
We invited some of our colleagues to share their favourite Diwali stories, and here’s what they had to say!
" Deepavali eve and the early morning of the festival hold the most significance, and those moments are filled with warmth and tradition"
Hema Naryanan, Audience & Data Insights
The second half of the year is rich with Indian festivals, each bringing its own unique charm.
For me, Deepavali is the highlight of this festive season, and my excitement starts to build as soon as the nine-day celebration of Navarathri wraps up. Growing up in India, Deepavali was always such a special time—I’d wake up at the crack of dawn, much to the dismay of my sister and cousins, get dressed in new clothes, and kick off the festivities with firecrackers. We’d distribute sweets to neighbours and relatives, visit extended family, and enjoy an abundance of amazing food. In South India, Deepavali eve and the early morning of the festival hold the most significance, and those moments are filled with warmth and tradition.
But what made it truly special was the anticipation—the lead-up to the big day. My mum would meticulously plan which sweets and savories to make, filling our home with wonderful aromas. My dad would bring home a big basket of firecrackers for my sister and me, and we’d spend hours deciding which one to light first. Shopping for new clothes and matching accessories was a whole event in itself, filled with laughter and excitement. Those preparations were what made Deepavali feel magical, long before the day itself arrived.
" There are so many moments, but those memories have always been about family, neighbours, and friends"
Aakanksha Verma, Marketing
When I think about my favourite Diwali, my mind takes me back to India, there are so many moments, but those memories have always been about family, neighbours, and friends. As kids, we used to look forward to the gifts that Diwali would bring, and there were so many of them! Relatives, friends, and neighbours would visit home, sit down for a cup of tea present the gift and as kids we couldn’t wait for them to leave because it was considered impolite to open the gift in front of everyone. And how can I not talk about the night of Diwali, it was the most glorious sights of all with diyas lit in every nook and corner of wherever your eyes could take you – your own home, your neighbours’ home, the street where you lived! All this divinity was often followed by firecrackers and some very intense battles between kids. The actual day of Diwali was always so busy but filled with so much joy and love!
Kunaal Ramchandani, Television & Online Content
Diwali has always been one of my favourite festivals, like a blend of Christmas and New Year’s. As a child, it was the time when the extended family would gather, and we’d dress up, enjoy delicious food, exchange gifts, and, most importantly, meet other kids in the neighbourhood to set off loads of firecrackers!
When I moved to Australia and was single, Diwali became long Skype calls with family back home, which eventually turned into WhatsApp and FaceTime conversations.