As innocent as I was in 2006, I didn't even know how or why Diwali was important to me. I was just celebrating it thinking it was fun. It was strange to me to feel that the Diwali holiday seemed to attract families. Word spread quickly about me and my family. We were going to a snowy and very cold place, that's what my parents told me. We were going to Canada. It was then that I realized the significance of my last Diwali in India. This will help me define my culture, the power of being a girl and staying positive in any type of situation. My last Diwali in India brought such joy and understanding to my life that it was necessary to prepare me for my future in Canada. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay It was October 21, 2006, early in the morning of Diwali. As I went outside to put the old newspaper in the recycling, the air smelled musty. It smelled musty because every house was being cleaned. Diwali was here. Neighbors hung fluorescent lights of different colors on their balconies to greet the darkness with light. Elderly men and women went to the temple to receive blessing on this auspicious day. At that moment, I was struck by a realization, the awareness of how lucky I was to be able to celebrate such a holiday with joy. I gained a better understanding of Diwali, the festival of lights that will help me define my heritage and background when I land on Canadian soil. The feeling of happiness was devoured by sadness when I even thought about living in Gujarat, the place where I grew up and did my education; but my last Diwali will always remind me of who I am. I am Indian; even if I stay miles away from my country, I will always learn to embrace my heritage even after losing my identity. The children went shopping for almost half the day, buying firecrackers and new clothes to wear for Diwali; and the poor children were sadly happy to celebrate Diwali. While the children were outside, the women of the house hung a garland of marigolds and sacred Ashoka leaves on the top of the door. Not only that, but they also made an attractive and colorful rangoli painting on the porch. Rangoli was as beautiful and colorful as a rainbow itself. Since girls were considered Laxmi: the goddess of wealth and cleanliness, they were expected to attend Laxmi Pooja. Laxmi Pooja was a ritual in which girls of my age would sit and listen to the great deed done by Goddess Laxmi and the strength of a girl. The Pooja was effective because it managed to make me feel like a valuable person. Some saw girls as not being strong enough. The Pooja made me act courageously and show how capable girls can be. The festival of Diwali is not only about celebrating Indian heritage but also about being accepted by all, irrespective of gender, race and status; and I think I was able to accept people's differences when I arrived in Canada. The thing is, I was heading to a place that I have only heard and seen in movies and it was my last Diwali, my relatives were coming to visit our family. Usually, on Diwali, it was said that we should interact socially with people so that any misunderstandings are cleared between friends and family. The interaction and positive thoughts kept me positive for the rest of the day. Even today when I remember sitting in a leather couch.