From lighting diyas and bursting crackers to dressing up, making reels and reimagining traditions, Gen Z is finding its own way to celebrate Diwali. We speak to four prominent young Bengaluru achievers making a mark in their respective fields – cue sports champ Natasha Chetan, Tanmay Gururaj, actor and model Jerusha Christopher, and model and go-karting racer Aanya Kholay – about their favourite festive memories, family traditions and what the festival of lights means to them today.
Diwali is a time when homes light up, families come together and festive plans take over conversations. For Gen Z, however, the celebrations also come with a few personal twists. For our special Diwali cover shoot, we caught up with model and go-karting racer Aanya Kholay, singer and music composer Tanmay Gururaj, actor and model Jerusha Christopher, and cue sports champion Natasha Chetan. From favourite Diwali memories and family rituals to festive fashion and changing traditions, they share what makes the festival special to them. For Aanya, Diwali is a festival that brings people closer, irrespective of how differently they celebrate it. “Besides being a significant festival that represents our culture and traditions, Diwali really means bringing people together. That’s something timeless. When I think of India and our culture, I think of festivals like Diwali. Tanmay Gururaj, singer and music composer
Because my ears are important to me as a musician, i have never enjoyed fire crackers.
I don’t want to risk them,” he says. For Tanmay, Diwali brings back memories of a beautifully illuminated home, thanks to his mother’s love for decorating with diyas. “My mother completely decorates the house with diyas. She’ll light hundreds of them and switch off all the lights. Like many, he misses the long Diwali holidays he enjoyed as a child. Now, with work, that’s reduced to just two days. I’ve been working and releasing music, so I haven’t had much time with my family,” he shares. Jerusha Christopher, Model, theatreperson, actor Dressing up is another part of the festivities she enjoys, and getting ready comes with a ritual of its own. “I can’t live without my music. Before getting ready, I need my filter coffee, my music and some snacks. I play some chatpate gaane, put on my lip gloss and feel like one diva. It’s very therapeutic for me,” she laughs.
“Earlier, we used to get long vacations during Diwali.