Trinayani D/O Kandesan
Class: 43B
One festival that I always celebrate every year without fail is Deepavali. It’s the festival of lights, to commemorate the death of the demon king, Narakasura. He was slain by the incarnation of god Vishnu. Therefore the festival symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Spending time with family members by bonding, de-stressing by not having to attend school and having a sense of identity with the outfits i wear during Deepavali shows how important it is for my family and I. When communities celebrate festivals together, it reminds each other of the lasting bond that we carry; and may carry on to future generations.
Personally, Deepavali has always been my favourite way to spend time with my family; the perfect opportunity to bond with them. Laughing hysterically at something ridiculous at the dinner table, eating whatever our hearts desire like fragrant chicken curry with fluffy white rice. I’ve never really been a family-orientated person but Deepavali is something that gets my heart pumping. Familial connections can only get stronger when meeting up with your family physically. So this is one of the reasons why I like to bond with my family members.
Another reason why Deepavali is important is because of the fact that I can relax and de-stress without thinking about my main responsibility, my role as a student. Staying home with my family alleviates the pressure and stress from the burden that is school. During Deepavali, I am able to engage in fun and meaningful activities such as playing with sparklers, applying henna or even indulging in scrumptious food. The relief my body feels when staying at home is an impeccable feeling; one of the best an individual can have. I love it when I get the opportunity to do the things that I love. It is a perfect chance to be at peace. Therefore I believe that Deepavali is a way to de-stress.
Celebrating Deepavali reminds me of my identity and the culture into which I have been born. My culture is an important part of my personality. Wearing traditional costumes creates a sense of belonging; a tribute to my culture and heritage. Indian food makes up about ninety percent of my diet. Getting stripped of these experiences would lead to the disintegration of my sense of self. If I were not as cultural as I am and were more like an anglophile instead, I would be taking on an identity that is not my own. Having come across anglophiles in Singapore on many occasions; Asian teenagers who have swapped out the norms of their culture in favour of broad western ideas and interest, I think I would be far more bland than I am now. Being Indian is what makes me unique. I take great pleasure in being able to proudly say that I am Indian and that I do not pretend to be like people of other cultures. Hence, I would not be who I am today without my Indian identity.
In conclusion, Deepavali is a perfect opportunity to bond, de-stress and have an identity. This is why I would look forward to celebrating Deepavali.
Writers by the River 