Diwali Hacks for University!

Waking up at six am and rushing about to make sure that the Diwali Puja tracks are ready and the lyrics are out is always on my Diwali to do list. Making sure you help mom serve the Gulab Jamuns and the rasgulla after the gym shaming feast for breakfast and the final wave of soul crushing nostalgia comes with not having ma yell at me for not showering and having a morsel. I also deeply miss the flower lady who would always argue with me in the name of bargaining essentially and after she would win anyway I'd console myself with the oncoming Jalebis.

Diwali is not just the festival of lights, its the time of your year wherein you take time to tell your parents that you love them for putting up with the world's economy and stress to raise and love you, and to remind your siblings that you don't really hate them even though you say otherwise all the time.

But then you find that you're in university preparing for what feels like a coursework that will determine the rest of your life, and there are no lights and gulab jamuns.

It is for that pressing and trying time, when the ache of missing ma hits you the most that these hacks have been designed. I hope they help you get through the Diwali Blues!

Surprisingly, Primark's got your back.

So if you're like me and need to find that diya love and can't find the beautiful smelling mud lamps, but you want to also not shell out too much, go candle shopping at Primark. Usually, I like to use as many tiny candles instead of large ones. But Primark has a cheap selection of both in different scents and colours to mix it up! I go for the value packs with twenty tiny candles as cheap as a pound!

For the Gulab Jamuns go for ready to make!

I usually put my faith in the Gits brand's doughy powder in ready to make gulab jamuns and go from there. They give you fantastic results and can be found at spiceland. Don't be afraid to experiment. There are several Indian Food online websites you can find, a simple google search is bae, and pick whatever you want, they usually don't take more than 30 minutes to make!

For the Puja, Hindu Society in the chilly square warm up with an ode to God!

Ma used to lead the puja crew and my dad, sister and I would chorus in for her,. Whether you're puja lead or a chorus lover, Hindu Society does a pre Diwali puja every year in the square with a few performances. The puja is usually amazing especially with the sweets and confectionary that follows!

For the Dancing, Singing and Food Diwali Ball's the best refuge!

This year, being my last Diwali Ball, was largely amazing. Following are a bunch of pictures from the amazing event. The food was great, there were a number of fantastic performances, all that you can and should be part of. The rehearsals are the best part. I had the privilege of dancing and singing with some amazing people enabling a fab night and a fab after party.