Saturday 07 / November / 2026
Muscat: The spirit of India is illuminating homes and neighbourhoods across Oman as Indian expatriates prepare to celebrate Diwali on Sunday, November 8, with traditional sweets, colourful decorations, prayers and gatherings with family and friends.
From the glow of earthen lamps to the sparkle of fairy lights, the Festival of Lights is bringing festive warmth to neighbourhoods across the Sultanate, with celebrations and preparations already under way.
From Wadi Kabir to Seeb, homes have been transformed into colourful displays of festivity, with families decorating their houses with flowers, lighting rows of diyas and creating intricate rangoli patterns at their doorsteps.
For thousands of Indians living away from home, the occasion offers an opportunity to reconnect with their roots, preserve cherished traditions and share the joy of the festival with friends and neighbours. For many, Diwali is as much about togetherness as it is about celebration.
“Diwali is all about togetherness,” said Binse Chandra of Olive Events.
“This year, we organised a Diwali celebration featuring the all-girl band W.i.S.H. at Al Falaj Hotel in Muscat on Friday night, which was a huge success, with guests dancing and singing along to the band’s popular numbers and soaking in the festive atmosphere.”
The festive mood has also been reflected in shops and markets across the country, where jewellery stores, gift outlets and sweet shops have witnessed increased activity as residents prepare for the occasion.
For many Indian families, no Diwali celebration is complete without traditional sweets. Boxes of kaju barfi, boondi laddoos, besan ghee laddoos, moong dal barfi, gulabjamun and sohanpapdi remain among the popular choices. Gold coins, pendants and other ornaments have also attracted shoppers looking to mark the auspicious occasion.
“On Diwali, devotees offer sweets to gods and goddesses during puja and also serve them to guests. So, they need to buy large quantities of sweets,” said Ali Asghar Vajihi, director of Bombay Sweets.
For some, the celebrations centre on prayers and family traditions at home, while others make temple visits an important part of the occasion.
“We plan to visit the temple in Darsait to offer prayers as part of our Diwali celebrations. We will also be lighting lamps at home and spending time visiting friends and neighbours,” said Sudha, a homemaker.
The festival of Diwali is associated with the triumph of good over evil and the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. The festival symbolises the victory of light over darkness and hope over despair.
Traditionally, families clean and decorate their homes, wear new clothes, light rows of lamps, offer prayers and exchange sweets and gifts to mark the occasion.
Yet, amid the festivities, the occasion can also bring a poignant reminder of the distance separating expatriates from their loved ones. For Mohanlal, a South Indian expatriate living alone in Muscat, Diwali is an emotional time. “We really miss our families back in India during this time,” he said.
For Ravi Kumar, a 46-year-old caretaker, the festival brings back memories of a very different life.
“Back home, I would be buying gifts for my children and decorating the house. All that now feels like a dream. Here, it’s just a normal day,” he said, recalling how he would celebrate with his young son and set off firecrackers together.
While the distance from home can make the occasion difficult for some, others find ways to recreate its familiar warmth through food and traditions.
Neeraj, a Qurum resident with a passion for cooking, prepared an elaborate spread at home to mark the occasion. “I have prepared Diwali-themed dishes such as gajar ka halwa, masala kaju, gud ki mithai, and naan khatai at home. It’s my way of keeping the spirit of Diwali alive,” he said.
Across Oman, the celebrations reflect the many ways in which the Indian community observes the festival — through prayers, family gatherings, elaborate meals, shopping and simple moments shared with friends and neighbours.
For those thousands of miles away from their homeland, Diwali is also a reminder that traditions can travel across borders.
As lamps illuminate homes and laughter fills neighbourhoods, the Festival of Lights once again brings a little piece of India to Oman.
