Step into the forest with Mumbai’s original residents where Diwali is about harvest, community, and food from the land

If the usual routine of diyas, mithai platters, and card parties is starting to feel predictable, celebrating Diwali like the indigenous tribes of Mumbai might be your cue. Beyond Mumbai’s concrete skyline, in the forested folds of Aarey, indigenous communities like the Warlis mark the festival in a way that predates mythology and temple rituals.

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For them, Diwali is a celebration of the earth’s generosity, the joy of the first harvest, a communal feast, and people’s bond with land, food, and one another. There’s no emphasis on new clothes or elaborate decor; the focus is entirely on community. Families visit one another, share meals, and exchange stories of th

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