DIWALI SANI

Diwali ni sani a tradition.

Diwali is a a time to celebrate with family and friends, a time when the household kitchens see delicious decadent food being prepared to be shared. In Africa, both at my parents and my in-laws homes we followed a tradition of giving the “Diwali Sani” or Diwali platter (sahani as it is pronounced in Swahili is another word for platter). The concept is to share all the good food with neighbours, friends and family and the tradition is to place each item of the specialy Diwali foods and mithais on the platter and deliver this personally to your loved ones. In return the reciepient will either give you a platter they prepared for you, or put a shagun/blessing of a handful of sugar or money, depending on your relationship. The platter is never returned empty.

Here in Charleston we still carry on with the sharing of the food but now instead of a platter, these items are in food containers and gift boxes to be shipped far and wide. I thought I would just share with you what the “Diwali sani” would have looked like had we been in Tanzania. Aap Sabko Shubh Diwali Vithlanis ki aur se.