Happy Diwali, Diwali Book Giveaway

Happy Diwali!  In honor of the Festival of Lights I am giving away a copy of one of my favorite children’s books Diwali In My New Home by Shachi Kaushik. Are you familiar with Diwali? Read on to learn about the holiday and for the chance to win your own copy of this heartwarming book.

DIWALI THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS:

Diwali is one of the most celebrated occasions in India. Hindus celebrate Diwali to observe the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair. This sweet holiday is associated with fortune and prosperity with a tradition of gift giving.

The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes symbolizing the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.

Because India is a diverse nation, observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Diwali is celebrated in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.

FIVE DAYS OF DIWALI CELEBRATIONS:

  • On day one celebrants clean their homes and shop for gold or kitchen utensils to bring good fortune.
  • On day two people rid themselves of negativity. Homes are decorated with clay lamps. Colored powders as well as sand bring to life beautiful floor art called rangoli. You can see some beautiful examples –>Here<—
  • Day three is the main day of the celebrationl. Families gather together to pray to Goddess Lakshmi (Lakshmi puja). Delicious feasts and firework festivities also mark the day. The date of the five day festival changes every year with the Hindu and lunar calendar. In 2023 Diwali falls on November 12th.
  • Day four marks the first day of the new year! Friends and relatives visit bearing gifts as well as best wishes.
  • The final day is Bhai Dooj. Sisters give gifts to their brothers while they visit and enjoy a lavish and delicious meal together.

HOW TO GREET SOMEONE ON DIWALI: 

A simple “Happy Diwali” is acceptable, but there are other Diwali wishes you can say to a friend celebrating the festival including:

  • Wishing you a Diwali that brings happiness, prosperity and joy to you and yours.
  • May your life be as colorful and magical as the lights of Diwali.
  • May every aspect of your life be as luminous as the lights on the lamps of Diwali.

Enter here to learn more about the history of Diwali.

Photo Credit: Diwali Festival.org

DIWALI IN MY NEW HOME:

Diwali In My New Home is a poignant story about a young girl named Priya celebrating Diwali for the first time after moving to the the United States.

SYNPOSIS:

Priya loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali. But this year Priya and her parents moved almost 9,000 miles away from India to the United States. Priya misses the traditions in India because no one in her new town seems to know what Diwali is. As she strings lights outside and creates rangoli art, Priya introduces the festival of lights to her neighbors. When her father invites the neighbors to celebrate, it seems different but Priya realizes it’s still Diwali only in her new home.

REVIEW:

Diwali in My New Home is a story of hope, joy and family much like the festival itself. It is a heartwarming tale of upholding tradition in an unfamiliar place. Building upon familiar traditions with new friends while leaning into a blended future in a new, multicultural place. This is the quintessential “melting pot” experience in which diverse cultures and ethnicities come together to form the rich fabric of the United States. Priya’s story is particularly poignant now as the United States is struggling to figure out immigration policies and many have been left to wonder if our great democracy experiment is faltering. The book’s takeaway is that home is where the heart is. Tradition blossoms where you plant it and its a wonderful feeling to bring tradition to new friends so that everyone can share in the light and feel at home.

The glossary of terms and the afterward about Diwali are a nice feature for everyone who is interested in learning more about the festival of lights. The cheerful artwork by Aishwarya Tandon vibrantly brings Priya and her family to life. The drawings burst off the pages. I would have loved to see a few pages of rangoli art included because you can never get enough cheerful artwork!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR:

Shachi Kaushik is a writer and storyteller. Part of the Children’s Media Industry, she creates content for children that is entertaining, enlightening, and educational. Raised in India, Shachi currently lives in Vancouver with her husband.

Aishwarya Tandon is an illustrator and cartoonist who lives in India. She is a digital artist who holds a BS and an honors degree in animation and multimedia from the Birla Institute of Technology.

ENTER TO WIN OUR DIWALI GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate Diwali and because I love diverse books, I am giving away a copy of Diwali In My New Home. Fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. Contest runs until 11/18/23.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**The Fine Print- Open to U.S. & Canada Only. Sorry, No PO Box addresses allowed.  KidCongeniality is not responsible for sending the book to the winner. Entrants must provide their name and email address in order to be notified. Winner must respond within 48 hours of email notification or an alternate will be chosen.

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