Diwali abroad hits differently. The fireworks that light up every rooftop back home, the smell of mithai being made in the kitchen for days before, the neighbours dropping in — none of that arrives automatically. But what thousands of NRI families have discovered is that celebrating Diwali outside India, with some intention and planning, can create traditions that are just as meaningful — and sometimes more so, because every element is a deliberate choice rather than simply the air you breathe.
The Biggest Challenges NRIs Face
Where to Get Diwali Samagri Abroad
USA
Patel Brothers, India Bazaar, Apna Bazar, Spice World (most major cities); Amazon India/US for advance orders; Walmart and Target now stock basic Diwali items seasonally
UK
Southall Broadway (London), Belgrave Road (Leicester), Curry Mile (Manchester); Tesco and Asda stock seasonal Indian items; Amazon UK
Canada
Brampton (Ontario) has the most comprehensive Indian stores; No Frills and FreshCo increasingly stock Indian groceries; Amazon.ca
Australia
Harris Farm, Spice Bazaar, Inala (Brisbane); online via Dhani Mart or Indian grocery delivery apps
Universal tip
Order 2-3 weeks in advance for items like brass diyas, kumkum, specific puja kits — they sell out close to Diwali
Doing Puja Without a Pandit
Most Diwali puja can be performed by the family themselves — and many NRI families find this version more intimate and meaningful. Here is a simplified self-performed Lakshmi puja that takes about 30-40 minutes:
Clean and decorate the puja altar — a small table with a clean cloth works perfectly in any home
Place Lakshmi and Ganesha idols or photos, with a small pile of coins and a few grains of rice (symbolizing prosperity)
Light a diya and incense — ghee diyas are traditional, but candle-diyas work well too
Offer flowers (whatever you have), sweets, and fruits
Recite or play audio of Lakshmi Stuti or Lakshmi Chalisa — many excellent recordings are available on YouTube and Spotify
Perform aarti, circling the diya in a clockwise motion
Close with a moment of gratitude and distribute prasad to everyone present
The Video Call Puja — Bridging India and Abroad
One of the most emotionally powerful things NRI families have developed is the shared video call puja — parents in India and children abroad performing puja simultaneously, with the phone or laptop propped up so everyone can see each other's diyas, sweets, and puja thalis. Some families have a standing annual call where the grandmother in Jaipur and the daughter in New Jersey light their diyas at the same moment. This simple act — being present together across thousands of miles in the same ritual — is one of the most meaningful experiences many NRI families describe.
Building Your Own Diwali Traditions Abroad
- Host a Diwali potluck with local Indian friends — each family brings one traditional sweet or savory dish, creating a shared feast
- Start a rangoli-making tradition with neighborhood children — this naturally introduces Indian culture to non-Indian neighbours
- Give Diwali gifts to non-Indian friends (mithai boxes, decorative diyas) — this spreads the festival's warmth and builds community
- Create a 'Diwali photo wall' of your decorations each year — a decade of photos becomes a meaningful family archive
- Volunteer or donate on Diwali — the festival's theme of light and giving translates beautifully into any cultural context
💡 Family tradition tip
The Diwali traditions you build abroad from scratch — the specific diya pattern you developed, the sweet you started making because you couldn't find it in a store, the neighbour you started sharing mithai with — these are not lesser versions of "real" Diwali. They are the beginning of your family's own chapter of the tradition. Document them on OurParampara so your children can look back and see how it started.
Want the full puja guide? See our complete Diwali puja vidhi guide.