Written by Neelanjana Goswami
Throughout the Indian subcontinent, no two families will celebrate any festival the same way. Stemming not just from India, but also Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, this diversity and the sheer amount of people in South Asia makes the diffusion of ‘desi’ culture so prominent and mesmerizing. In recent years, the diffusion of Indian culture and tradition has spread across the globe, and there are so many ways they interact with common Western traditions. From more visibility to the culture in our very own Ardrey Kell to Wells Fargo changing its employee home page to employees’ families celebrating Diwali with decorations and traditional clothing, South Asian culture has truly made its mark in our community.
On the morning of November 1st, Ardrey Kell’s principal, Jamie Brooks, sent out an announcement on Parent Square wishing everyone a Happy Diwali. A lot of students dressed up on the day before as well, with many in traditional wear and earrings called jhumkas. This year, with Diwali coinciding with Halloween, the mix of the two holidays was something intriguing to see. Some people showed up in traditional wear while others showed up to school in attempted Halloween costumes. A student dubbed the day “Diwali-ween,” and the mix of the two occasions made the week incredibly fun for the South Asian community at Ardrey Kell.
South-Asian culture has grown into the spotlight in the last few years. Months ago, Europeans and Americans were following a trend of what is traditionally called a dupatta or chunni being added to a regular dress or outfit to add and enhance the outfit. Additionally, back in March, the festival of colors, Holi, was celebrated by a few celebrities, including Disney actor Milo Manheim. Additionally, a recent video of Iain Armitage, known for playing Sheldon in the TV series Young Sheldon, showcased the young actor eating pani puri (a spicy, flavorful Indian snack).
In all, it’s eye-opening to see the amount of diversity we can see in the 21st century’s Western world, and watching people come together to celebrate things like Holi and Diwali encompasses the idea of how unifying culture can be.
Desi - generally used to describe people in South Asia, derived from the Hindi word desh meaning country.
Dupatta/chunni (different languages within India have different words for it) - a piece of cloth, usually part of an outfit that is meant to be used as a set.
Milo Manhiem Holi Video: https://www.tiktok.com/@milomanheim/video/7349739667538890027?lang=en
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