Diwali traditions in a silver household
Our family has been in the business of pure silver for many decades, and over time we have built and passed on our own personal traditions specific to Diwali.
I have been living away from home for over a decade now and have come to terms with living away from family. But during Diwali, the homesickness gets the best of me and I have to fight really hard the urge to be with my people the home I grew up in.
Diwali has always been the most important time of the year for us, of course, because it is the best time for buying and selling silver according to Indian values. I have memories of my father working tirelessly for 20 hours everyday all through October and November. On Dhanteras, our close family relatives and friends would stop by the store to give blessings and good luck, and also make purchases.
We would start lighting diyas and decorate the house so on the day of Diwali. We pray to Laxmi-Ganesh at our decades-old store and give thanks for the health and wealth of the family. We distribute sweets to everyone we work with and at the end, our father would give us a 'tyohaari'.
The most awaited task for me and my siblings would be to take out all of the silver ornaments and coins the family has collected over time and give them a good cleaning. When all work is done and dusted, we come home to the warmth of diyas and lights.
It's the time to eat the best food, meet your favourite people and wear your best outfits.