Table of ContentsBringing Diwali to AmericaGreater CelebrationsWhy Diwali is Celebrated in October in the United StatesIndian diasporic communities have formed in the United States since the early 19th century. Currently, there are 3.1 million Indian-Americans, making it one of the most populous immigrant communities in the country. They brought their culture and traditions to the United States, including their celebration of Diwali, or the Hindu festival of lights. Diwali actually falls on November 7 this year, but said Indian-American communities celebrate the holiday much earlier in October. They have their reasons. This was reported by Quartz India, a news site covering Indian businesses. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Bringing Diwali to America During Diwali, Hindus gather in their temples to pay homage and pray to the goddess Lakshmi. After performing their religious rituals in the temples, they all went to the melas (fairs) to buy Diwali trinkets like their diyas (oil wick lamps), puja stuff, aarthi (prayer) books. and food. Neenah Shah, a Hindu from Long Island, New York, said there used to be small, local Indian stores in Flushing or Hicksville, New York, to buy all these things. There are now stores like Patel Brothers, Usha Foods and Apna Bazaar scattered in most places across the country. It has become relatively easier to buy Indian products. The ease of acquiring basic necessities during the festival season pretty much extends to booking a priest for the puja rituals. Puja N Punjari, a Bengaluru-based company with a presence in Texas, allows people to quickly book a priest. Unfortunately, sometimes Puja N Punjari users are exploited, cheated and charged an excessive amount of $500 for a simple Satyanarayan puja ritual. It may be out of fear of being deceived that some people turn to YouTube tutorial videos on how to perform the puja themselves. In India, during Diwali celebrations, firecrackers were lit. However, due to stricter environmental laws, they stopped using them. Despite this, American Indians still ask the local police chief to allow them to use firecrackers during their festival. Some American companies generously allow their Hindu employees to take time off and observe the religious holiday. Bigger Celebrations Diwali in America is not only celebrated in Indian-American community colonies. Some festival season events are celebrated on a larger scale. Non-profit organization Surati organized a play of Ramayana in English directed by Rimli Roy on October 20. Another North Carolina nonprofit called Hum Sub hosts one of the largest Diwali celebrations in the area. Many shows are prepared for festival-goers from locals and Indian celebrities. This year, it took place on October 13 and was attended by around 15,000 people, including Indian singers like Sadhana Sargam and Amit Sana of Indian Idol. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Why Diwali is celebrated in October in the United States The main reason why Diwali in America is celebrated about a month earlier than expected is that, according to Prakash Punj, president of Hum Sub, November will be "too cold for an outdoor event and also, the theater, which can accommodate as many..