With the festive season in full swing, excitement is in the air, and for the artist-entrepreneur Aahana Kumra, Diwali is not just about lights and parties but also about nostalgia, tradition, and the warmth of family. In an exclusive chat with mid-day, the actress got candid about her childhood memories and celebration plans.
“I plan to go to a lot of Diwali parties this year, so I’m very happy,” she shared. “My parties have already begun, which I’m very excited about. There’s a lot of stuff actually happening on the Diwali front.”
Even with the glamour and social buzz, she admits that her heart still lies in the simple, soulful celebrations she grew up with. “Of course, there are many things that we still follow, like our Lakshmi Puja, which has been the same Puja for years,” she explains. “But I think the one thing I miss about Diwali in Bombay is that it’s very different compared to what it is in the north.”
Aahana Kumra recalls her fond memories from childhood
Reminiscing about her childhood in Lucknow, Aahana paints a vivid picture of festive warmth, “When we were in Lucknow, I had a very big house, and I remember we used to decorate it not with lights, but with lamps. Whoever has been brought up in the north of India knows this when I say this. We used to bring clay lamps into everyone’s courtyard. There used to be a big tub where everybody soaked those lamps, then we’d dry them, put mustard oil in them, and light them. We would go to every corner of the house and place those lamps.”
Aahana Kumra beams with affection as she recalls the atmosphere, the scents and sounds that define a truly traditional Diwali. “There’s a beautiful fragrance of Rathrani mixed with potatoes and mustard oil that always comes during Diwali,” she says fondly. “And I used to wait for Kheer Batase. I used to say, ‘Kheer Batase aayenge!’”
Diwali, she says, remains one of her favourite festivals. But as life moved to Mumbai, the celebrations have evolved. “Of course, it’s become very modern now because now we’re in Bombay,” she shares. “It’s so different because it’s all become parties and sash parties. But I think what I really miss about Diwali is the simplicity of the festival and how beautiful it actually can be, just if you look at it from the point of view of how you can decorate your house or how beautifully you can celebrate with your family and friends.”
Aahana Kumra prefers rangoli over firecrackers
When asked if she’s a firecracker person, she laughs, “I don’t think I ever burst firecrackers. I think I must have done phooljhadi once or twice in my life. I get bored! I don’t get time actually to burst a cracker, I’m doing so much safaiya and Rangoli.”
Her love for art and aesthetics shines through her festive preparations. “I’m usually like a decoration, production designer of the house,” she says. “I have a house to do for my sister, one for myself ,so I stay in between the three houses like this! I don’t have the time only for firecrackers.”
And she confirms with a chuckle, “You’ll definitely be seeing Rangoli from my end again this year. I do lots of Rangolis and all sorts of fun.”
For her, Diwali isn’t just about celebration, it’s about connection. Between the diyas, the memories of Rathrani, and the laughter shared between homes, her Diwali spirit reflects the perfect balance of nostalgia and new beginnings, a festival of both light and love.
