What do you ladies do in diwali when in US??

Do u have some friends or collegues ? Celebrate together by calling to pooja and prepare lunch or dinner for them ? Do it elaborate with some board games after dinner. Plan some games for kids too.

it will be a memorable Diwali. U do this time , next time your friends will do it Voluntarily I guess.

 

I used to invite all DH's friends/colleagues over to have diwali sweets/savouries prepared by me. The bachelors in the group used to have a feast as they miss home-cooked sweets/savouries and used to be the first to come and the last to leave That plus chai n chitchat in itself made us have a a great time.

 

The first year that we were there I called over everyone for two reasons, I was missing home and people terribly and also because in my enthusiasm for preparing sweets/savouries by myself had ended up making quite some amount that in no way I and DH would be able to finish (DH is not so fond of such stuff and eats only one or two items that he likes and does not even look at the other stuff prepared). I did not know that at that time.

After seeing the look on the faces of his colleagues, bachelors especially, I decided to host a diwali party every year at our place. I was saddened to see other families response. I thought everybody would pitch in too but was aghast to see the little amount of stuff that others got to share. However that did not dampen my enthusiasm and I continued to host it till the time we were there.

 

All the best for your exams. Do not stress yourself out since you have studies to do. Call in a few close friends that too if you can manage or otherwise just make something special for the evening, order 1-2 movies online and spend cosy time with your husband in the evening.

 

I celebrated it traditionally minus the crackers...The oil bath followed by new dress, simple pooja and awesome food..Made lot of sweets and shared with all my friends. Went to temple..Now having 3 Diwali parties to attend this weekend as all such gettogethers happen only during the weekends....SO am planning to wear the best suits for all the parties..

Oops..I forgot the Traditional Rangoli i made in front of my Houe Door/Garage door with simple rice flour

 

I wouldn't let the parking keep you from the temple activities. Carpool? Taxi? Hiking shoes?

Don't forget that your western friends might not have been exposed to Diwali so an evening with them could also be fun.