Diwali at MSV: a time of joy, togetherness and reflection

“Diwali, for me, is happiness,” declared Yamandeep Singh, Senior Technical Escalation Engineer at Microsoft in Vancouver.

He was reflecting on October 22^nd, 2024, when he and his co-leads from the Asians at Microsoft Employee Resource Group (ERG) came together to bring Diwali to Microsoft Vancouver (MSV) for hundreds of their peers.

Diwali – also represented in English as Divali or Deepavali – is primarily known as the Hindu Festival of Lights. The festival is celebrated annually in India, usually between September and November, as well as being observed in a variety of forms by a number of other countries, religions and groups.

“Diwali is a time of joy, togetherness, and reflection. It’s about celebrating light, hope, and new beginnings with family and friends,” explained Shwetha, Partner Technical Strategist and Asians at MS Vancouver ERG co-lead.

“I always remember Diwali as this beautiful time right before winter,” related Abhas Sinha, Designer at Microsoft Vancouver. “School would be out, everyone would be dressed up in traditional attire, and we’d just watch the night sky fill up with sparkles.”

Over the years, Diwali at MSV has grown. “This year’s Diwali event was our biggest yet, reflecting the growth of the Asians at Microsoft Vancouver ERG chapter,” noted Shwetha.

“The first time that the ERG celebrated Diwali in Vancouver was in 2022. At that time, it was 10 people in a conference room connected with Microsoft Canada’s Toronto office over Teams call during lunch hour,” recalled Yamandeep. “Since then, we started our own Vancouver chapter, and our local Diwali event has grown from 10 to more than 200 people.”

The 2023 event ballooned in both size and impact, welcoming hundreds of employees to MSV.  “We wanted everyone to feel like they’d come back to their roots, so we recreated every cherished Diwali tradition – vibrant rangoli, delicious food, henna, music, dance, tombola (a version of bingo), and games,” remembered Akshit Goyal, another Asians at MSV ERG co-lead and software engineer at Microsoft Vancouver.

“The room was packed, and I remember hearing, ‘I haven’t celebrated Diwali like this since moving here.’ Those words touched me deeply, knowing we’d brought a bit of home to them.”

The team considered learnings, successes and misses from last year’s event when planning the 2024 celebration, which was highly anticipated.

“Even before we announced the event, people were asking about the event and if they can help in any way,” shared Yamandeep.

Throughout Diwali, celebrants light their homes, places of worship, and workspaces with Diyas – small earthen pots used as oil lamps, candles or lanterns. “We learn to conquer our fear and darkness and move towards courage and positivity,” shared Yamandeep.

In addition to bringing back popular activities from the previous year, like henna, song and dance performances and delicious food, the team set up tables for participants to paint their own Diya lamps. The event was a huge success, hosting over two hundred attendees from across the various MS Vancouver offices.

“I loved the enthusiasm and the planning of the organizing committee. Right from painting of the Diyas to light up was so touching! It connected me back to my roots in India… I’m going to light the ones I painted in office at home,” noted Creena Mehta, Principal Software Engineering Manager at MSV and Diwali 2024 co-organizer.

“It shows the genuine desire within MSV to foster connections and learn about diverse cultures. It’s heartwarming to see so many allies join in, making it easier for everyone to embrace their identities and share their values,” included Shwetha.

“I feel Diwali embodies our culture of One Microsoft very well where we all can come together as One big family and enjoy the festivities,” remarked Aman Jindal, Senior Software Engineer and volunteer photographer for the event.

For individuals like Akshit, Diwali is more than a festival. “It’s a time for togetherness, laughter, and sharing joy with loved ones.”

“When I moved to Vancouver to start my journey with Microsoft two years ago, it happened to be Diwali – my first day at work and also a festival that embodies being with friends and family… That day, as an immigrant in this country, I felt the distance from home deeply,” he shared.

Akshit is happy to say that over the years he’s formed such connections with his peers here at Microsoft in Vancouver, and within the Asians at Microsoft ERG. “From casual lunches and weekend adventures to movie nights and shared celebrations, these are the people who have given me a sense of belonging – a home away from home.”

His co-organizers feel the same way.

“It’s natural and necessary for me to connect with my colleagues on topics beyond work. And so, it’s important for me to celebrate occasions like Diwali at work,” stated Yamandeep. “It gives us a chance to share our values and culture, and at the same time get the feeling of being at home while away from home.”

The team cherishes the opportunity to connect with peers on shared history, while also building new bonds.

“We get to share traditions and celebrations with our colleagues who are not originally from India but love to learn about the festival,” added Yamandeep.

“Diwali brings a sense of warmth and connection, no matter where I am,” added Shwetha.

“Celebrating Diwali at MSV has come to mean so much – it’s a reminder that I may have moved across the world, but with the right people, it feels like I never really left home,” concluded Akshit.