Meet the Author

My mother woke me up for Diwali before the sun rose.

I prayed while wearing the salwar kameez my grandmother couriered from India. My mother lit the incense sticks as my father offered delicacies to the murtis (statues of our many Hindu Gods). Together, we devoured the sweet gulab jamun. After our morning celebration, I refused to change out of my traditional garb. Eventually, my parents gave in and drove me to my elementary school.