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Readers responding to Farida Pacha’s 2021 essay about Bohra Diwali recalled childhood celebrations and shared customs, while another commenter cautioned against treating one person’s memories as representative of wider conditions. Scroll.in’s November 5 roundup captures those reactions; it is a record of individual responses, not a history or survey of Bohra experiences.
What the readers remembered
Khadija Minwalla, identified in the roundup as 80 at the time, said the essay took her back 70 years. “Farida Pacha has brought back precious, happy memories of childhood,” she wrote. Her age and recollection are her own account, not evidence of a shared community timeline.
Femisa Hussain connected the essay to her own upbringing: “As a Bohra girl growing up in the 1960s, I can totally relate with the writer of this piece.” Ummehani Sitabkhan likewise agreed with its nostalgic feeling, saying she missed the spirit of those Diwali celebrations. These comments show that the essay resonated with these readers; they do not establish how widely that experience was shared.
The family and neighborhood customs behind the essay
Pacha’s essay describes her own family’s Diwali practices in Bombay. She recalls her Bohra trader father asking a local mosque’s head priest about an auspicious time to open the family business accounts. The family bought a silver coin on Dhanteras, obtained new ledgers and registers, decorated its store and gathered relatives.
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- Package Contents: diwali crafts bring 12 unpainted wood candle holder in 3 lotus styles with 4 of each, plus 2 acrylic paint sets with 12 colors, 2 brushes, 4 gem sticker sheets, 2 plum blossom designs and 2 water droplet designs, 12 yellow LED lights; Open the box and start your diya decoration kit
- Diwali Holiday Craft: diwali craft decoration center on a DIY coloring with 12 wooden candle holder for Diwali displays and Pooja decor, ready for custom painting, gem accents, and glowing LED candles; Hang the finished pieces at home, in classrooms, or community events
- Production Details: diwali lotus candle holder uses smooth wood bases, acrylic color adheres well and stays vivid, LED candles are secured with screws, making stability and reliability; You can display them with confidence
- Diwali Gift: diwali gifts offer a complete festive making set for family, friends, combining hands on decorating with display in one present, while the larger packs are also suitable for team use and party favors; A solid choice for shared celebrations
- Multi Scene Application: wall candle Holder support Diwali making across homes and community DIY workshops, with finished lotus pieces ready to hang as festive wall decor in living rooms or event spaces; Different styles help vary each display
Her memories also include nearby Bohra, Khoja, Memon, Hindu and Jain businesses observing their own customs, as well as visits across religious communities for Gujarati New Year. Pacha presents these as experiences from her family and neighborhood, not as a comprehensive account of all Bohra households or Bombay businesses. Her reflections on changes after the 1990s, including the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition and riots, are also her interpretation of events and community life.
A reader’s objection to generalising
Kailasnath Radhakrishnan accepted that Pacha was describing a genuine personal experience but challenged the broader implications he saw in the essay. “I do not question her personal experience, but it cannot be generalised,” he wrote. He argued that syncretism and Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb continued in parts of India and urged media writers to report examples of harmony alongside polarization. That is his argument, not an independently verified counterfinding.
Rank #2
- Complete Diwali Craft Kit: each set includes 12 wooden lotus lanterns, 12 LED candle lights, 2 rhinestone sticker sheets (plum blossom and round designs), 2 sets of 12-color acrylic paints, 4 paintbrushes, and 12 decorative tassels; Everything you need to create handmade Diwali lotus lanterns, hanging diyas, or temple garlands straight out of the box — no extra purchases required
- Inspire Creativity and Cultural Connection: this hands-on DIY activity encourages exploration of Indian traditional art while building fine motor skills and imagination; The lotus flower holds deep significance in Indian culture as a symbol of purity and prosperity, making this craft both educational and meaningful; Paint, bead, and decorate each lotus to create vibrant Diwali ornaments for a pooja room, door curtain, or heartfelt festive gift
- Simple Step-by-Step Assembly: paint each lotus in gold, red, green, or any festive color; Thread the flowers and tassels together with the included cord, slot the three wooden panels into place, and press the LED candle into the center; Add rhinestone stickers for extra sparkle; Hang the finished lanterns on walls, doors, windows, or trees, or arrange them as a temple flower garland to bring warmth and positive energy into your home
- Safe Wood Materials: the wooden lotus panels feature a smooth finish, clean cuts, and no sharp edges — lightweight, safe; The surface takes acrylic paint evenly and holds color well; Each piece can be customized freely, giving crafters of every skill level the freedom to express their own creative vision
- Perfect for Diwali and Many Occasions: these DIY LED lotus lanterns are ideal for home decor, birthday parties, family gatherings, Diwali, Deepavali, Indian New Year parties, and temple offerings; A heartfelt gift for parents, grandparents, or friends that carries the meaning of love, light, and blessings — a joyful, hands-on way to celebrate and connect with Indian cultural traditions
The difference between these responses matters. Readers who recognized Pacha’s memories spoke from personal identification and nostalgia. Radhakrishnan’s comment focused on representativeness and what a wider account of social relations should include. The roundup presents both kinds of response, but neither a handful of comments nor one first-person essay can measure community-wide experience.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the roundup does—and does not—cover
The comments roundup also contains reactions to other Scroll.in coverage under a separate “Communal hatred” heading. Those comments respond to different stories and should not be attributed to Pacha’s Bohra Diwali essay. The relevant responses here are the recollections, agreement and disagreement directly connected to her piece.
Rank #3
- Diwali LED Candle Holder: this diwali party decoration set comes with 24 sets of Diwali wooden LED candle holders, including 24 wooden bases and 24 Diwali themed wooden cutouts; Enjoy the fun of DIY crafting while embracing the beautiful symbolic meaning of Diwali; For LED candles only, candles are not included
- Diwali Themed Designs: each indian return gift for pooja is embedded with Indian Diwali cultural motifs, featuring classic patterns such as diyas, lotus flowers, mandala prints, flames and auspicious leaf ornaments; These patterns symbolize the victory of light over darkness, and carry heartfelt blessings for wealth, happiness, peace and a bright future
- Durable Material: each base of Diwali gifts measures approx 8.5 × 8.5 cm with a thickness of 6 mm; Each Diwali wooden cutout crafted from natural solid wood is about 10.5 × 10.5 cm and 3 mm thick; The boards feature smooth, fine surfaces that allow free coloring with markers, paints and other art supplies; Simply slot the wooden pieces into the bases for quick assembly; The finished candle holders are sturdy, stable and reusable
- Fun DIY Craft Project: no complicated tools required; Just unleash your creativity to paint freely and craft diwali party favors all your own; The hollowed-out center holds LED flameless candles; Once lit, they cast soft, warm glow to effortlessly build a rich Diwali festive atmosphere; This activity helps boost creativity, color matching skills and hands-on ability, while letting you learn about Diwali culture
- Wide Applications: diwali crafts bulk are suitable for Diwali parties, Lakshmi Puja rituals, family gatherings, community events, temple celebrations, Indian-themed parties, DIY craft workshops and more; Diwali decoration for home can serve as LED candle holders, dining table centerpieces, windowsill ornaments, entryway decor, festive gifts and event souvenirs; They infuse your home and event venues with rich traditional Indian cultural vibes
Sanjay Bansal praised Pacha’s account of business relationships among Bohras, Khojas, Memons and others. Alongside the more personal recollections, his comment reflects appreciation for the intercommunity ties described in the essay, without establishing how common those relationships were beyond the places and people Pacha remembered.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Package Includes: this Diwali DIY painting crafts set includes 20 pcs unfinished wooden mandala trays and 4 complete acrylic paint kits (each with 12 colors and 2 paintbrushes); Suitable for bulk Diwali preparations, family craft nights, party favors, or commercial event decor, with enough pieces to decorate every corner
- Standard Size for LED Tea Lights: each unfinished wooden Diwali craft measures about 12 cm/ 4.7 inch in diameter, with a central recess ideally sized for standard LED/electronic tea lights; The stable base keeps your LED tea candles secure, creating a glowing, festive display without tipping and hassle
- Natural Wood for Unlimited DIY: crafted from smooth, unfinished layered wood with a natural feel and sanded edges, the surface of this craft is ideal for painting, staining, decoupaging, or spraying with your favorite designs; The included acrylic paints let you create personalized pieces that reflect your style
- Safe for Indoor Family Use: designed exclusively for LED/ electronic tea lights, these Diwali painting tea light holders eliminate the risk of open flames, making them safe for homes with kids, pets, and public spaces; Enjoy the warm glow of Diwali without worrying about fire hazards
- Versatile Decor for Diwali: the elegant mandala design of our unfinished wooden craft is ideally suited for Diwali, Deepavali, home mandir, or Festival of Lights celebrations, but also works beautifully for weddings, parties, meditation spaces, or as thoughtful handmade gifts; A versatile craft kit that doubles as long-lasting decor
Rank #4
- Package Contents: diwali crafts bring 24 unpainted wood candle holder in 3 lotus styles with 8 of each, plus 4 acrylic paint sets with 12 colors, 2 brushes, 8 gem sticker sheets, 4 plum blossom designs and 4 water droplet designs, 24 yellow LED lights; Open the box and start your diya decoration kit
- Diwali Holiday Craft: diwali decorations center on a DIY coloring with 24 wooden candle holder for Diwali displays, ready for custom painting, gem accents, and glowing LED candles; Hang the finished pieces at home, in classrooms, or community events
- Production Details: diwali lotus candle holder uses smooth wood bases, acrylic color adheres well and stays vivid, LED candles are secured with screws, making stability and reliability; You can display them with confidence
- Diwali Gift: diwali gifts offer a complete festive making set for family, friends, combining hands on decorating with display in one present, while the larger packs are also suitable for team use and party favors; A solid choice for shared celebrations
- Multi Scene Application: wall candle Holder support Diwali making across homes and community DIY workshops, with finished lotus pieces ready to hang as festive wall decor in living rooms or event spaces; Different styles help vary each display
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