By Martha Jane East
Diwali (Festival of Lights) is India’s most important religious festival. Jake and Pearl Kringle hosted a Diwali festival at their home in Shelbina on Monday, October 24. Jake said, “Diwali is like Christmas, New Years and Fourth of July all at once.”
When celebrating Diwali, families gather for prayer, good food and give gifts. Decorations include candles and lamps The Kringles invited Shelbina friends to join them in their celebration. Swati’ Pearl, who is from Punjab in northern India, has lived in the United States only five years. She said this is the first Diwali she has prepared since coming to the U.S. and has found Shelby County to be a welcoming home.
Pearl has a passion for cooking and prepared her traditional delicacies lovingly with the help of her daughter, Noyonika, and Subasri Ashok. The special dishes required a great deal of time to prepare. Jake shared that his wife grinds her own curry powder. Other ingredients also required grinding or paring to be used in the special recipes. Guests were offered spicy snacks, hot curry and garlic naan bread, along with sweet cookies and candies. When they arrived at the Kringle’s home, they received a blessing mark.
According to a National Geographic report, the festival gets its name from the row of clay lamps that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
