New Delhi: As the national capital is soaked in festivities with splendid fireworks lighting up the sky, a bunch of non-Delhites, too, joined the celebrations even though they couldn’t help nostalgia creeping in, reminding them of their near and dear ones back home.
“I have not visited my hometown for the past two years on Diwali. I miss home, but ‘Delhi ki Diwali kuch khaas hai’. I visit my friends in Delhi and celebrate the entire day with them. Fun, food and crackers is what Diwali all about,†said Bharat Arora, who hails from Amritsar.
At Chittaranjan Park, a gaggle of young men and women could be seen crowding the junk food stalls, munching on street food. “I come here so that I can feel at home. We are bound by our jobs. Given a choice between my hometown and Delhi, I would prefer to be with my family. But the Bengali environment here comforts me with a feel of my hometown,†said a young man from Kolkata, who has been working in Delhi for the past three years.
 “I miss my hometown and friends a lot. I wish I could have been in Guwahati celebrating Diwali with my folks. But I’m glad, at least this place reminds me of home,†Mrinal Sarma, who is from Guwahati and works as a fashion photographer for a magazine here, said.
Numerous Diwali Melas (fairs and carnivals) take place all across the major gathering points in the city. Dilli Haat organises a Diwali Utsav (a special event) every year with special stalls selling decorative items for Diwali, idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, specially designed Thaalis (large plates) for Diwali as well as ethnic outfits. One can also enjoy the amazing street food and the enriching culture.
Diwali is also about shopping. In this festival, people wear new clothes and also gift their relatives. Many buy jewelleries too, be it gold or any such fashionable items.
“I often go to road side stalls as we can get various jewelleries at affordable prices. Diwali for me is shopping, shopping and only shopping,†Neha Verma, who works in an MNC in Gurgaon, said.
Delhi is home for many non localites who move from their States and come here for jobs and higher studies.