Fireworks, lights, colors, sweets, and family. These are the things that come to mind when we hear the word Diwali. Diwali is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in India, and it is just around the corner! 

Thanks to the pandemic, the new ‘normal’ way of celebration is going online. If you’ve got your thinking hats on and are trying to figure out the best way to celebrate Diwali, trust me, you’re not alone. The festival of lights is inching closer and we all know how tough it can be to plan a successful Diwali celebration for your friend and family. Lucky for you, this blog is your saving grace! 

Here is a list of ideas to celebrate this Diwali with your friends and family while staying safe in the comfort of your homes.

1) Virtual Diwali Party

Unleash your inner fashionista and dress your best for your virtual Diwali party. Ask all your friends and family to dress up in new, traditional clothes and add a touch of culture to your celebration. Throw in awards like “Best Dressed Person” in the mix and take your event to the next level! You can also conduct a live poll to determine the winner and make the event more engaging. Don’t forget to ask your attendees to share selfies and boomerangs on their social media platforms!

2) #VirtualDiwali

Create your party hashtag to make sharing pictures more fun! This way the pictures posted by all of your guests will be consolidated under one hashtag, making it easier for everyone to view all the pictures. You could use this hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram.

3) Virtual Rangoli Making Competition

Rangoli making and Diwali go hand in hand. Rangoli can be designed using fresh or dried flowers, or powdered colors. However, going virtual can throw a wrench in your rangoli making plans. Nevertheless, you can always hold a rangoli-making competition online! Ask your friends and family to join in and make a fun competition out of it. Set your creative side free and showcase your artistic abilities. Pick a person to judge all the rangoli designs and choose a winner for the competition.

4) Gaming Night

What is the perfect team-building activity? GAMES! Include games in your virtual Diwali party and get a little competitive. The pandemic sure has added distance between us, no pun intended, it has also brought us closer through online games. Here is a list of games that you can play with your friends and family during your virtual Diwali party. A plus point? They’re downloadable on almost every device!

• Tambola: I’m sure we are all familiar with the game called Tambola. Ask everyone to download Tambola to their devices, create a personal room and play on! 
• UNO: UNO is an extremely addictive card game. Play this game with your peers and see what goes down when your loved ones pass you a “Draw Four” card right when you say “UNO”. A little healthy competition never hurt anyone!
• Online Teen Patti: Is Diwali even complete without a game of Teen Patti? I’m sure I don’t need to explain how Teen Patti is played. Everyone loves playing Teen Patti during the Diwali season. What’s even better? You can play this game online with your friends and family. Ask everyone to download the app, make a personal table and start shuffling!

5) Host A Movie Night

Anybody can host a typical Diwali party. Why not do something different? Host a virtual movie night with your friends and family. Schedule a watch party on an online platform like Zoom, Houseparty, or Skype. Do a Bollywood movie binge and enjoy yourself with your friends. A virtual movie night is the easiest way to connect with your peers with minimal tech requirements.

6) Express Gratitude

Expressing gratitude should be a regular habit. However, we as humans tend to take things for granted. But worry not! Festivals are a great time to express gratitude towards others. Thank your friends and family for their constant help and support. Recognize your team at work and show them how thankful you are for the time and efforts they put into their work.

You can also ask your friends, family, and team members to make a small video expressing their gratitude towards one another. You can also use gifts and awards to recognize your peers.

7) Light Up Diwali For Someone Else

Diwali brings light, peace, and joy to everyone’s lives. Use this Diwali as an opportunity to light a foolhardy in someone else’s life. Organize a virtual fundraiser or a donation drive to collect donations for underprivileged children. Donations need not be monetary. You can buy new clothes or boxes of sweets and donate them to make the childrens’ Diwali happier. I promise you, nothing will bring you more joy than putting a smile on someone else’s face.

This year, use these virtual Diwali ideas to celebrate the festival of lights and share the joy with your peers!