52 / Dec 2015-Jan 2016 / PROBIZ

FESTIVE STORIES

SONAM MIRCHANDANI Director of Sales at Panache International FZ LLCA family get-together is what makes my Diwali special every year. We generally perform a puja and decorate our home with candles and diyas, setting a festive mood. What made this year even more special was the presence of my European friend, Evelyn, who celebrated the festival with us. We also performed a puja in the office for the first time after my new role with Panache International FZ LLC. I believe celebrations go beyond boundaries and what makes Diwali memorable is sharing and spreading joy.

AMIT VARDHAN Group Sales and Marketing Director, Fakhruddin Holdings Diwali is celebrated with much fanfare in north India; especially in my home town of Lucknow. This festival has been my favourite since childhood; memories of diyas, delicious sweets, sumptuous savouries and sparkling crackers are special. The tradition continues with friends and family in Dubai, where we have an open house and several parties that often start two weeks before Diwali.

A new tradition added to the festivities is shopping for gold jewellery for my better half as the festival is supposed to be the most auspicious occasion to do so. Overall, my Diwali celebrations this year involved spending quality time with friends and family.

As we bid goodbye to this year’s festival of lights, Dubaites tell Probiz what made their festive celebrations special

By Hina Navin

A time for tradition

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PROBIZ / Dec 2015-Jan 2016 / 53

PUJHA PATANKARBrand and Consumer Marketing Lead, AkzoNobel Middle East For me, Diwali is a time for reflection; to revisit and judge impartially one’s thoughts, actions and words. It is also about banishing negativity within. During this auspicious occasion, I revel in the company of loved ones, dress up in festive finery and gorge on delicious dishes prepared for the event; and this year was no different. I spent quality time with friends and family, and rejoiced in the festivities with them.

DHEERAJ THAKURAccount Director, Publilink Public Relations Diwali is the time to perform traditional rituals and show our gratitude for all the gifts we have been given. I wear traditional attire, which I rarely do in Dubai, to add to the festive excitement.

This festival is a great opportunity to bond with friends as well as clients. This year, we attended many Diwali parties and our celebrations lasted for almost 8-10 days with sweets, lights, gifts, and of course, driving around Bur Dubai to soak in the festive spirit the area is famous for.

PRIYA BHATIASensory Panelist – Quality Control, Mars International With Diwali comes a sense of warmth, love and unity. My family abandons their other commitments and devotes time to make the festival of lights the most memorable time of the year. We do everything together; from tidying up our house to making

rangolis to preparing homemade sweets for our guests. This year, we decided to go one step forward to portray the true extent of our unity—we colour coordinated our outfits! We selected bright orange as the common colour as it represented everything that we were: determined, enthusiastic and happy. Our matching outfits further kindled a sense of harmony. n

USHA KAUL SARAFEntrepreneurship Project Director, Sharjah Business Women Council Diwali brings the much-required respite to our tiring work schedules. It not only lights up our homes, but also our minds. This year, Diwali was on a working day, so managing everything was a little difficult. However, I was able to cook a traditional Kashmiri vegetarian meal that included ‘Satyadeev’, a special sweetened poori offered to Goddess Laxmi. In the evening, we performed the Laxmi puja and had a fabulous time with family and friends.

For me, Diwali has always been a festival of sharing and giving. This year, I associated myself with the Access Life Assistance Foundation, in Mumbai, which provides a temporary home for children undergoing cancer treatment together with their parents. I am glad I was able to make a small contribution to these children, which I believe, defines the true essence of festivity.