When Farzana Hussain and Ishaan Puri got married after 10 years of dating, they wed in court. The two now live and work in London and don't consider religion a part of their identity. They celebrate Eid, Diwali and Christmas. "All celebrations revolve around food and drinks," says Hussain.
Her nephew, she says, didn't know his parents were Muslim until recently; he is nine. "He thinks my husband and I are Christian, and that my cousin is Hindu, because she lives in Mumbai and celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi.
When it comes to love, religion has a way of stretching at the seams, accommodating interfaith couples, distance and a child's curiosity. This Diwali, see how some families have blended diverse customs, food habits and of course, celebrations.
Recipe for peacetime
Sadaf Chowdhary, 36, and Yatin Grover, 34
The lawyers met at work in 2014 and tied the knot in 2018. Yatin was born into a Punjabi Hindu family from Gurgaon, with Sikh lineage on his maternal side. Chowdhary was born to a Muslim family from Lucknow. Neither wanted to convert to the other’s religion. Both retained their birth names.
“Eid and Diwali are our favourites! We celebrate most Eids in Lucknow with my family and spend Diwali with Yatin's side of the family, in Gurgaon," says Chowdhary. "We try to bring both families together to celebrate at least two festivals together in a year." This year, both families celebrated Eid and Holi together.
They've also started their own tradition. They choose one non-profit or orphanage each year for Eid and Diwali to sponsor education and meals for children. Plus, they cook biryani for the local dog gang.
This story is from the November 11, 2023 edition of Brunch.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 11, 2023 edition of Brunch.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Photos or pulp fictions?
Gauri Gill's portraits showcase ordinary folks, doing ordinary things, but wearing extraordinary masks. See why the quirky series offers more than what meets the eye
Hear it from a reliable sauce
Kikkoman launched a dark soya sauce for the Indian market after realising that Indians expect Chinese and pan-Asian dishes to have a rich, dark colour. It mimics the taste profile of the flagship Kikkoman soya but has a different colour.
He says, she says
Best friends, partners and actors Shweta Tripathi Sharma and Chaitnya Sharma answered the same questions in their first joint interview. The results: Couple goals
Against the machine
AI is already behind little tunes we hear every day. Could it create the next hit? Composers and engineers listen in
YOLO, so why go solo?
Films and shows are overrun with lone wolves. One fighter against all odds. One hero doing it all. Bea team player, maybe?
Get your vision tested here
Vision boards are great tools for those dreaming of anew job ora killer body. Don't just tack pics on toa wall. Here's how to doit right
Are You Of Week Mind?
You can't speed up fitness. Skincare is a slow process. Even learning a skill can take a year. Try unhacking for a change
A case of myth direction
Nutritional data is changing all the time. So, advice often seems contradictory and sketchy. Is breakfast essential? Is red meat evil? What's wrong with soy? Here's where science stands on the big questions
No kids on the block
Being childfree can be just as rewarding as having a big family. Those who've made the choice say there's no guilt, no regret. There are, however, bold new challenges. Take a look
Shes making her point
She calls herself Dot. She's anything but insignificant. Meet Aditi Saigal, viral at 18, actor by accident, musician for life, determined to try it all
