Virtual Diwali Celebration Ideas if You are Far from Home this Festival

As life happens, we move away from our families, sometimes for education, sometimes for work and other reasons. We miss being with them even more during the time of festivals because these celebrations bring families together. Where most of you return home for Diwali, some of you can’t make it due to commitments. But that doesn’t mean you will miss celebrating with your family. Through digital tools and creative online engagements, you can join in the joy, lights, and spirit of the Festival of Lights, making it a memorable experience even when far apart.

Video Calls

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to celebrate Diwali virtually is through video calls. Platforms like Zoom, Google Meet and WhatsApp have made it easier to share festive moments in real time. Here are a few ideas for making the most of virtual connections:

Virtual Lakshmi Puja: Families can join together on a group video call and perform the Diwali puja at the same time. To make it more engaging each family can set up their own puja thali. 

Dressing Up Together: Just because you’re apart doesn’t mean you can’t dress up! Decide on a time to meet virtually and showcase your Diwali outfits. Share stories of where you got your outfits, or reminisce about past Diwali celebrations.

Virtual Card Parties: Diwali card parties are a beloved tradition for many. If you're apart, you can host an online card game with various platforms and play cards with them.

Online Puja and Rituals

Several temples and organisations are now streaming Diwali pujas live. You can join in from the comfort of your home and perform the rituals in sync with these streams. Sri Mandir Puja Seva and Dev Dham are some online portals where you can participate in Pujas of different temples in India. Various YouTube channels offer live-streamed Diwali aartis and bhajans, so you can screen share and listen to them on the day of the festival. 

Virtual Digital Gifting

Diwali is synonymous with gifting, and digital platforms have made it easier to exchange gifts even across borders.

E-Gift Cards and Vouchers: Popular e-commerce websites like Amazon, Flipkart, and many others offer gift cards that can be delivered digitally. Whether it's for sweets, gadgets, or home décor, gift cards are a convenient way to keep the tradition of gifting alive. You can also personalise them with festive greetings and messages.

Online Shopping for Gifts: Sending physical gifts through online shopping platforms is another option. You can order traditional Diwali sweets, dry fruits, or clothing from online stores and have them delivered to your loved ones.

Customised Virtual Greeting Cards: You can create personalised digital Diwali cards with platforms like Canva or Adobe Spark. These cards allow you to add personal photos, messages, and even animated features to give your greetings a unique touch. Once done, simply send this via WhatsApp or print them and get them delivered. 

Cooking Over Video

Food plays an essential role in Diwali celebrations. While you may not be able to share sweets or snacks in person, you can still cook together virtually.

Virtual Cooking Sessions: Schedule a time to cook festive dishes like laddoos, chaklis, or karanji together over a video call. 

Recipe Sharing Groups: Start a Diwali recipe exchange group with your family or community on social media platforms, where everyone can post their favourite dishes, tips, and photos of their festive creations.

Virtual Rangoli and Decoration Competitions

A significant part of Diwali is decorating homes, particularly with rangoli designs, diyas, and lights. You can bring your family and friends together through these fun virtual activities:

Rangoli Competitions: Challenge each other to create beautiful rangoli designs and showcase them over a video call or by sharing pictures in a group chat. You can even vote for the best one and offer virtual prizes.

Lighting Diyas Together: On the main day of Diwali, you can light diyas at the same time while connected via video calls. 

Creating a Virtual Diwali Scrapbook

To make this virtual Diwali even more memorable, you can create a shared online scrapbook filled with photos, messages, and memories from everyone celebrating with you.

Google Photos or Dropbox Albums: Collect everyone’s Diwali pictures in a shared digital album, so that all can contribute and enjoy the memories. You can even club all these memories in an album and share them with each other.