Keeping the faiths

When interreligious families celebrate Diwali, the festival gets a sparkling remix. Rituals are reborn, kids have a blast, and love shines brighter

- Urvee Modwel 

When Farzana Hussain and Ishaan Puri got married after 10 years of dating, they wed in court. The two now live and work in London and don't consider religion a part of their identity. They celebrate Eid, Diwali and Christmas. "All celebrations revolve around food and drinks," says Hussain.

Her nephew, she says, didn't know his parents were Muslim until recently; he is nine. "He thinks my husband and I are Christian, and that my cousin is Hindu, because she lives in Mumbai and celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi.

When it comes to love, religion has a way of stretching at the seams, accommodating interfaith couples, distance and a child's curiosity. This Diwali, see how some families have blended diverse customs, food habits and of course, celebrations.

Recipe for peacetime

Sadaf Chowdhary, 36, and Yatin Grover, 34

The lawyers met at work in 2014 and tied the knot in 2018. Yatin was born into a Punjabi Hindu family from Gurgaon, with Sikh lineage on his maternal side. Chowdhary was born to a Muslim family from Lucknow. Neither wanted to convert to the other’s religion. Both retained their birth names. 

“Eid and Diwali are our favourites! We celebrate most Eids in Lucknow with my family and spend Diwali with Yatin's side of the family, in Gurgaon," says Chowdhary. "We try to bring both families together to celebrate at least two festivals together in a year." This year, both families celebrated Eid and Holi together.

They've also started their own tradition. They choose one non-profit or orphanage each year for Eid and Diwali to sponsor education and meals for children. Plus, they cook biryani for the local dog gang.