People from different walks of life in Hyderabad reflect on the traditions, memories, beliefs and personal rituals that make the festival meaningful to them.
Start anew
Ashvani Pavan, homemaker, Gaddiannaram, SBH Colony
Deepavali means more than just diyas, sweets and decorations. It is a time to pause and reflect on the months gone by, to take stock of the things that worked and those that did not. Despite the mistakes, disappointments and plans that fell apart, the festival reminds me that there is always an opportunity to begin again, hopefully with a little more light and a little less darkness.
Ashvani Pavan
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The festival is also about coming home — not necessarily to a physical space, but to a place where you feel you belong, surrounded by people who make you feel at home. Having lived in Singapore for many years, the longing to return to Hyderabad during the festival was particularly strong.
Deepavali is also a time for forgiveness, sometimes of others, but more often of myself, and for gratitude towards the everyday things we tend to overlook when life gets busy. I see the pramida as a metaphor for hope. A tiny flame may not dispel the darkness, but it reminds us that there is always light.
Find your purpose
Babu Swaminathan
GCC Advisor/motivational speaker, Gachibowli
Babu Swaminathan
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My childhood Deepavali memories, spanning Udumalpet, Coimbatore, Salem and Chennai, are filled with the traditional oil bath, new clothes, firecrackers, temple visits, seeking elders’ blessings, exchanging greetings and the excitement of watching the first-day shows of my favourite actors, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. These moments made the festival truly special.
As I grew older, Deepavali took on a new meaning. During my corporate journey, with 23 years in Delhi and eight years in Hyderabad, I celebrated many team successes and realised that sharing joy with colleagues carries its own positive energy, much like family celebrations.
Deepavali is also a time for purpose and renewal. We clean our homes and surroundings, but what about cleansing our minds and letting go of negativity, ego and fear? The light within us grows through gratitude, empathy, kindness and hope. What we give, we receive. Let’s embrace positivity and spread light, both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Bring people together
Gowri Sarkar
Associate Director, Delhi Public School, Nallagandla.
Gowri Sarkar
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Being a Bengali who has lived across Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and now Hyderabad, I have come to realise that Deepavali is more about the warmth of people and shared cultures. From idlis and dahi vadas to gaarelu and biryani, every celebration is a feast of togetherness.
For me, the lamp symbolises hope and the enduring power of love and kindness to bring people together across borders. As an educationist in Hyderabad, I see it as my responsibility to nurture resilience, adaptability and empathy in children, especially in an increasingly materialistic world.
Deepavali reminds us to choose compassion over indifference, hope over despair and humanity over division. The greatest light we can kindle is within ourselves, and the greatest gift is to be a source of hope and kindness to others.
Spark of compassion
Parankush Churmurkar
Founder, Churmurkar Events, Kondapur
Parankush Churmurkar
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Growing up in Nanded, Maharashtra, Deepavali meant waking up early for abhyanga snan, enjoying homemade faral (Marathi sweets and savouries), and visiting relatives to greet elders and seek their blessings. One of my fondest memories is helping my mother with festive preparations, ensuring she was not overwhelmed by responsibilities and could enjoy the celebrations herself.
I believe the spirit of Deepavali also lies in small acts of kindness, such as buying diyas, decorations and festive essentials from street vendors, knowing that our purchases could help light up their homes too.
Now, living in Hyderabad, I strive to carry these values forward. For me, the light within is empathy: celebrating while ensuring that even those who cannot afford life’s basic necessities have a reason to smile.
Intimate celebrations
Stuti Rathi
PR Professional, Banjara Hills
Stuti Rathi
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Growing up in North India, Deepavali meant boxes of mithai, lively family gatherings and homes glowing with diyas. Now, married into a Telugu household in Hyderabad, the festival has become more intimate.
My husband and I are creating traditions of our own, bringing together childhood favourites such as gujiya, churme ke laddoo, gulab jamun, udad daal ki kachori and aloo gobhi ki sabji with Telugu classics like pulihora, payasam and pulusu. Bringing both cuisines to the same table is our way of celebrating our roots and creating a home that is uniquely ours.
For us, finding the light within means choosing empathy, practising gratitude and holding on to hope through everyday challenges. That quiet, inner warmth is what we truly celebrate.
Looking at the festival differently
Sreejit Harshan
Vice President, Applexus Technologies, Kokapet
Sreejit Harshan
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As a Malayali growing up in Thiruvananthapuram, Deepavali meant lighting up our homes, making traditional jaggery sweets, sharing them with others, bursting crackers and visiting the temple.
It was never just about the festivities, but about sharing happiness. As we become more conscious of our health and the environment, our celebrations have evolved too. Today, Deepavali is more about spending quality time with family, playing indoor games with the children and creating memories together.
Over the years, I have celebrated Deepavali in Singapore, the US and now Hyderabad. While the surroundings have changed, the warmth, joy and togetherness remain unchanged. Perhaps that is what makes the festival so special.
As I grow older, I find myself reflecting on the meaning of lighting a lamp. Perhaps it is not just about illuminating our homes, but lighting up our inner selves through learning, overcoming ignorance and becoming better individuals every day.
