My introduction to Diwali was in 2016 during my first visit to India. I wandered the streets of Jaipur, twinkling with white, blue, and purple fairy lights. I snacked on treats with my host family, designed rainbow-colored patterns with sand, and carried flickering diyas (oil lamps) to the neighborhood temple before watching fireworks explode over the city. 

Also called Deepawali, the Hindu Festival of Lights in its simplest form celebrates the victory of light over dark, of good over evil. It’s a deeply important time for Hindus. “Diwali has always been one of the important festivals that was celebrated in our home and community,” says co-owner Aakanksha Sinha of Spice Waala. “It’s more about cleaning the house, removing any bad vibes, starting fresh, and, of course, eating a lot of festive food.” 

I’ve returned to India almost every year, spending months each visit exploring the colorful diversity of the subcontinent and celebrating Diwali—indulging in the feasts, flowers, and fireworks, as well as experiencing its inward side, reflecting on the shifting season and the power of finding light in the darker, colder days. 

The magic of the Festival of Lights isn’t just limited to India and Nepal. The South Asian diaspora keeps Diwali traditions alive around the world, including in the greater Seattle area, which more than 100,000 Indians call home. From pujas at temples to feasts at favorite Indian restaurants to full-flung cultural celebrations, Seattle is plentiful with ways to celebrate Diwali. Determined by the Hindu calendar, this year Diwali will fall between Oct. 18 and Oct. 22, with the main day taking place on Oct. 20.   

Citywide Celebrations

Seattle Asian Art Museum will celebrate Diwali on Oct. 11 with storytelling, cultural performances, and live music. This family-friendly affair is set to run from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. and in addition to the performances, it includes decorating a tea light holder with a heritage artist and a Nepalese food truck serving snacks including momos.

On Oct. 12, Utsav Diwali will unfold at Everett’s Angels of the Winds Arena with a colorful flurry of storytelling, music and dance, feasting, crafts, and a puja for peace. 

Seattle Center’s Diwali celebration is on Oct. 18 at the Armory Food and Event Hall. The event is free and open to everyone. Enjoy dance and music performances, including an Indian classical choir from the Swaranjali School of Music and Kathak dance by Anga Kala Kathak Academy, and take part in workshops like making traditional flower mandalas, cooking rotis, and astrology readings. “As a community, we celebrate Diwali at Seattle Center to share the richness of Indian culture with all of Seattle,” says Latha Sambamurti, festival producer. 

Feasts and Flavors

You’re also invited to taste the flavors of the occasion at South Asian eateries around town throughout October. The three Spice Waala locations will cook up some favorite festival foods, including samosas, chole, and puris during Diwali week. “Diwali always started with my paternal grandmother showing a ‘jum ka diya’ around the house at dusk the night before,” says Sinha. “This was a way to ward off any evil and to wish a long and healthy life for all family members. The next morning, we all dressed in new clothes, made calls and visits to family members to wish them. The evenings were when we lit diyas around the house and made rangoli. We prayed to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. It was a night full of delicious food, lighting crackers and of course playing cards with friends.” 

“I have continued this tradition in our home in Seattle and at Spice Waala,” says Sinha. “Every year on Diwali day, we always light a diya in each of our restaurants and decorate it with marigold garlands and rangoli. We want to make sure that people like us who are far away from home can get a feeling of the festivities here in Seattle.” 

Fremont’s Sangamam is celebrating Diwali from Oct. 17-22 with a weekday Diwali thali, along with a few special sweet treats including semiya payasam (a vermicelli sweet pudding) and mango rasmalai (cottage cheese dumplings soaked in a mango-flavored cream). “The Festival of Lights holds a very special place for us,” says the Sangamam team. “We celebrate with a festive ambiance filled with beautiful lights and a special feast menu. It’s our way of sharing the warmth, light, and sense of togetherness that Diwali represents with the Seattle community.”