These 12 South Asian-Owned Businesses Will Be Your Go-To For Diwali and Holiday Season Gifting.

Posted in Uncategorized by The Snazzy Mom

**DIY Diwali Lantern by Vir. (As seen on Disney Junior social pages)**

The festival of lights. Diwali is celebrated by over a billion people every year globally, and each region and religion celebrates it differently and for different reasons. For some, it’s a new year; a fresh start. For others, it’s the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. For the most part, Diwali is a celebration that culminates in good food, the company of wonderful family and friends, and holistic introspection. Follow our Diwali updates on my Instagram @TheSnazzyMom

This holiday season, whether you want to support a small business or need some amazing gifts, these South Asian-owned businesses have got some of the coolest products. I am curating a list of shops that I love and our my go to!

From delicious sweets, to authentic paan, and homeware to kid’s gifts, these South Asian-owned businesses will definitely deliver the best of the best. We can do our bit by supporting these small business and celebrate the culture!

You can also check our Diwali video from last year on Disney Junior ‘s social page. We had the amazing opportunity to share all about our culture with all Disney fans.

Got sweets on the brain? I have you covered

Simply Mithiai – These are western desserts with a desi twist. Check out the Diwali – Signature Mithai Bonbons and also add a personal touch with a handwritten note.

The Paanwala– It’s a drink. It’s a dessert. It’s a chilled taste bud tantalizer Paan creation, simply put. Check out the Paan Truffle box, a deconstructed version of a Meetha Paan, transformed to a bite size, easy to fall in love for a Paan novice or Connoisseur.

Home Made Diwali sweets , chocolate barks, barfis or store bought dry fruits , dates beautifully packaged in boxes gives the personal touch to your gifts! I am making some for my friends and family! Let the kids get crafty and decorate teh Diwali boxes!

Diwali Decoration Ideas For A Bright & Beautiful Home

Desi Favors has everything you need from Indian DIY decorations , traditional favor packaging, Quick Indian Backdrop Kits for Indian weddings and more. Their Diwali hampers are wrapped very carefully along with a hand written note and every gift box has a Desi Vibe to it , so we can stay connected to our roots.

All things Artistic you can give a gift that is meaningful to the receiver and shows a part of you as well. From scented candles to urli sets the store has artistic pieces that can take your Diwali decor of gifting next level.

Arjuna Design studio a modern lifestyle brand that has some of the most unique and classic contemporary furnishings and accessories. It is a platform that champions for local Indian artists. The lotus branded Masala Dabba is a must have.

Also Sophia Diwali Home Decor Collection will add charm to your home this Diwali season. Welcome your guests this Diwali with a decorative door sign made from solid MDF and available in traditional gold

South Asian influenced confortable children’s fashion, in beautiful print

Hava World- From hand drawn prints to limited edition releases. Each collection of Hava is thoughtfully designed. Extremely soft and comfortable Hava has some of the most unique and fun prints for new borns and upto 6 year olds

Lark Adventurewear is a bestselling kid’s wear brand with clothing made of the softest bamboo essentials that are buttery soft and temperature regulating. Their fall collection joggers are a must have in every kid’s closet. is They partnered with Hava to introduce the first Diwali Pajamas to the world.

Little Muffet is an online store dedicated to all you lovely kids and mothers who throw the house upside down, trying to find the best attire for every occasion. The store carries a wide range of ethnic clothing for new borns to 15+ and even moms.

**Flower Rangoli is the perfect way to decorate your home on Diwali**

Kid’s crafts , activities , toys and more

Kulture Khazana thoughtfully created Rangoli Mandala puzzle. That is a blend of fun and focus, family time and independent play, cultural story and game.

Let Ombox captivate all of your senses for your favorite Indian festival. The Diwali box includes beautiful clay divas with hand-pressed flowers, an assortment of rangoli powders with a chic wooden stencil (that doubles as a coaster!) and more! It also includes the beautifully illustrated Indus magazine explaining the stories of Diwali.

Home made Diwali Coloring Card Prinatble -There is no precious gift than something handmade, right? I loved the art work by Pavni Kapoor from PKK DESIGNS and she was so kind to custom make a Diwali Rangoli design card for my readers. Vir loved coloring it and adding some jewels and stickers to bling it up. You can download it HERE.

Desi Chaat-1500 words that will keep the party going. This is THE party game for Desis! If you need a game during get-togethers, potlucks, Diwali parties and more that allows EVERYONE from the family.

You can also read my previous post –

DIY Diwali Craft Ideas For Kids.
Gearing Up for Diwali at Home. Recipes, DIY crafts & More

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali and a proseprous New Year!

Love

30Oct2016

VIR’s First Diwali !

Posted in Uncategorized by The Snazzy Mom

In my last post I wrote about how much I missed celebrating Diwali at home in India. And this year I long for it even more as its a very special one, since we have our beloved son Vir celebrating it with us .

The entire week I was face timing with my mom and brother and hearing their daily activity updates, shopping sprees, reminiscing old days and getting to share the real Gharwali Diwali experience with them. My mom got Vir a really cute ethnic outfit which she will be sending with my cousin sister and even though its is arriving post Diwali, I am super excited to dress him up in it. There is a charm in wearing vibrant desi/ Indian clothes, they make the festival so much more authentic.

Vir is 5 months old this month and loves being around people, he enjoys getting all the attention and lately has been putting his entire fist in the mouth and babbling. He has also started to flip over on his tummy and is in awe of Rio. Rio too has also started warming up to Vir and its a great feeling to see both my boys finally show some love towards each other.

I am glad to share with you all, Vir’s first Diwali story at our home in Houston with these pictures.We celebrated it with our loving friends with great home cooked food, Coconut ladoos ,Rasgullas,music, lots of cheer , laughter and a long game of Flush. I hope you enjoy looking at them .

(If you follow me on Instagram , you must have seen some of our celebration pictures and videos on my Instastories too)

Thanks to our friend Abhishek for these lovely clicks.

My Anarkali dress : Meena Bazaar

Vir’s Cardi Set from : Amy Collier Designs

Home made coconut ladoos

Our wonderful friends !!

Diwali cannot end without some sparkles.

The focus of this pic was on our fur baby Rio who was waiting to eat mom’s coconut ladoos.

17Oct2016

Missing Home This Diwali !

Posted in Uncategorized by The Snazzy Mom

Hi Everyone!! Hope you are welcoming Autumn with high spirits as this is the season of festivals and celebrations. Festivals are a huge part of anyone’s culture and ‘Diwali’ – The Festival of Lights, is one of the most significant festivals celebrated by me and my family.

This year we are celebrating Diwali on October 30^th and although it is almost 2 weeks away, I just don’t feel the same excitement and fanfare around me as it was back home in India…..

The bright decorations at the mall, the shiny packaging on the sweets,

the aroma in the meals, the sparkle on the clothes,

the buzz at home, the lamps on the floor, the gifts galore,

the shiny lights on the street, the new Bollywood beat,

the hymn of the prayer, the agarbatti smell in the air,

the colorful rangoli, the diya and roli on the pooja thali ,

the ladoos and the burfi , the win in teen pati,

I miss it all …..I feel the absence of my family.

Image: Pinterest

Of course it is hard to find the same cultural experience here in United States and I know it is silly of me to even expect it. But hey! At least I can long for it. The other day I was in Michael’s to get some supplies for Vir’s Halloween costume which I intend to DIY, and as I stepped into the store, the buzz and hullabaloo reminded me of the scene at the firecracker store in my hometown in Rajasthan, where we would go when we were kids. How we loved going through all the different colored sparkles, amused ourselves looking at the creative names on the new rocket and chakri boxes and searched for that new cracker which our neighbor wouldn’t have, while making sure all of them were within our budget.

As a kid, Diwali for me was about new clothes, firecrackers, chocolate covered dry fruits, decorating the balcony with lights, meeting my cousins and enjoying the break from school. Chores like cleaning the house, shopping for gifts, selecting that dress, seeking for more pocket money were the little things we looked forward to every year as Diwali got closer. As I got back from Michael’s the first thing I did was to create a Diwali wreath with the help of my cousin sister and my dear husband. I just wanted to get a whiff of that the Diwali spirit which has been lost in modern times.

Today, I am so thankful for all the cultural traditions that I grew up with. With every passing year, I have learnt to appreciate the meaning of each of these traditions even more. They constantly remind me of who I am and where I come from. These festivities also make me reflect on the literal importance of the holiness of each occasion. Staying away from home has made me preserve these traditions even more…..my culture, religion and language are the essence of my Indian Heritage and as a new mom I feel it is my responsibility to introduce my child to them and maintain their essence in our lives.

Image: Rang Decor

Even though I have been visiting India every year since I moved to Houston 6 years back, I sometimes get nostalgic. Especially during the festival season! On our trips to India, we would travel between 3 states to visit our homes and squeeze in as much as we could within the 2 to 3 week vacation. Lately, these trips have been planned around marriages in the family. A perfect opportunity to meet all our cousins and family members at the same place and the same time, dancing off to latest Honey Singh’s songs, while wearing elegant desi outfits and enjoying the incredible food.

However, right now, at this moment , I wish I was home preparing besan ke ladoos with my mom , making rangoli with my brother, choosing the color for this year’s salwar suit, packing the gifts for my friends and practicing my skills for teen pati. And even though there is time to book my tickets and head off to India, there are work and life commitments that I cannot get out of. Celebrating Diwali at home will have to wait again.

Yet!! I believe, it’s more the reason for me to celebrate my ‘Gharwali Diwali’ with similar emotion and joy at my home in Houston, because this Diwali is SPECIAL !! We were blessed with our son ‘Vir’, our bundle of joy this May !! And even though it will be difficult to recreate the same sentiment, I aspire towards sparkling my home with happiness, decorating it with shades of love , preparing the food with more joy and stand in the light with my husband and son beside !! My hope is not to lose my texture as an Indian in a foreign land with time, but to celebrate its elements and authenticity as much as I can.

A Happy Diwali to you and your loved ones!! May the divine light of Diwali spread peace , prosperity , pleasure and good health into your lives.

Do share with us on how you are planning to celebrate Diwali and what is missing this time.