Dubai’s Hindu residents bask in Diwali fervour

Indians and other expatriates belonging to the Hindu faith will celebrating Diwali with enthusiasm when the festival starts on Wednesday.

Dubai resident Prashant Gulati, right, and his family celebrate at their home on the eve of Diwali on Tuesday. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

DUBAI // Indians and other expatriates belonging to the Hindu faith will celebrate Diwali in full flight when the festival starts on Wednesday.

They say Diwali, which is a celebration of good over evil and also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the highlights of their calendar.

“Dubai is such a cosmopolitan city, welcoming and celebrating all major festivals from around the world with its people,” said Prashant Gulati, 45, who has been living in the UAE for 20 years.

The Indian technology entrepreneur will be celebrating the festival with his wife, daughter and mother.

“You obviously miss family and friends in India, but then Dubai is now home for me,” he said.

Hetal Geriya also says she will also be missing the celebrations back home.

“The streets in India are buzzing a lot more. The festive vibes are different. People are out shopping, everyone plays music loud and kids and adults all are letting off firecrackers on the roads,” said Ms Geriya, who moved to the UAE two years ago.

She said, however, that she was pleasantly surprised by the extent of the festivities in Dubai.

“I did not expect the city to have such a massive celebration here. A multicultural city that has such a modern touch and feel celebrating festivals like Diwali was an awe-inspiring sight.”

She will mark the festival by preparing sweets, snacks and gifts for family and friends. “We have bought the ceremonial gold coins, like every year, for the family ‘puja’ [worship]. We have also distributed sweets and gifts to all our friends and family,” said Mr Gulati.

Traditionally, Diwali is also a time when people buy gold and other expensive items.

Two days before Diwali begins, Hindus celebrate dhanteras, the day when it is considered auspicious to buy precious metals.

“Traditionally Indians buy gold and expensive items and start new businesses on this day,” said Mr Gulati. “You will see a big rush at shops selling jewellery, gold and, at times, vehicles.”

Gold merchants have experienced bumper business over the past few days.

Karim Merchant, chief executive and managing director of Pure Gold Jewellers, said the recent fall in the price of gold meant customers were spending freely.

“Presently, as the prices are really moderate, the situation is very conducive for people to buy gold. So an average a family is usually spending about Dh5,000 on gold.”

Others will be have a more austere Diwali.

Moti Lal, 30, a Nepali who works as a cleaner, said: “This is going to be my 10th Diwali away from home. It is a festival of lights and happiness. And all this is meaningless for me because I am away from my family.

“Tomorrow will be a routine day for me. I will work all the day and if I get time then I will buy sweets for myself and friends in the evening.”

He said he would try to buy his wife and two children gifts and small gold jewellery.

“My wife told me that this year my eldest daughter, who is five, is going to set off firecrackers. I will miss these precious moments again and again.”