Celebrating Diwali 2026: Carrying Culture and Community into Medicine
Growing up, Diwali was one of my favorite times of the year. I looked forward to decorating our home with rangoli, lighting diyas, dressing up in traditional Indian clothing, and spending evenings outside watching fireworks. Throughout the days of celebration, our family would gather for dinner at a different relative's house each evening. Diwali, often called the Festival of Lights, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, but for me, what made it especially meaningful was the opportunity to spend time with loved ones we rarely saw throughout the year. No matter how busy everyone's lives had become, Diwali always brought us together.As I have grown older, I have come to appreciate Diwali as more than just a celebration. Along with other parts of my upbringing, including learning Bharatanatyam, a form of classical Indian dance, it helped me develop a connection to my Indian heritage that I did not fully recognize at the time. What once felt like a natural part of my childhood has become something I deeply value and hope to carry forward.
When I began medical school at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, I found new opportunities to celebrate my Indian heritage while also learning about cultures different from my own. Joining the National Executive Board of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows allowed me to maintain that connection to my heritage. Through this organization, I helped organize a national research convention that brought together medical trainees and physicians from across the country. At the same time, being part of a diverse medical school community encouraged me to learn from perspectives I might not otherwise have encountered. Attending events hosted by other cultural organizations on campus gave me the opportunity to learn about different traditions and hear classmates share their experiences.
Diwali continues to remind me of where I come from, and I look forward to carrying these traditions with me as I continue learning from the many people I encounter throughout my journey in medicine.
This interest in learning about others has also shaped how I approach patient care. During my internal medicine rotation, I had the opportunity to follow my own patients, which allowed me to get to know them beyond their medical histories. I often took advantage of the extra time I could spend at the bedside to learn more about my patients' lives, asking about their families, traditions, and what mattered most to them. Just as Diwali has been an important part of my own life, I enjoyed hearing about the customs and celebrations that were meaningful to them, sometimes returning the following day with more questions. These conversations reminded me how much there is to learn from our patients and how their backgrounds can influence their perspectives on healthcare. As my interest in anesthesiology has grown, I have thought about how important this approach will be in a specialty where physicians often have only a brief opportunity to get to know their patients before a procedure. Even in these shorter encounters, I hope to make patients feel that their individual experiences and concerns are heard and respected.
This year, as I celebrate Diwali, I find myself reflecting on how my upbringing has influenced the way I connect with others. While the traditions I grew up with have remained familiar, my appreciation for their significance has deepened. Diwali continues to remind me of where I come from, and I look forward to carrying these traditions with me as I continue learning from the many people I encounter throughout my journey in medicine.
Shreya Desai is a third-year medical student at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School with an interest in pursuing anesthesiology. She earned her bachelor of science in biology from Rutgers University-Camden. She is actively involved with the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine through its Resident and Fellow Committee, where she serves on the Medical Student and Education subcommittees. She is also engaged in the Newark community, having founded an initiative focused on raising awareness of nonopioid pain management options and leading a student organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity. Outside of medicine, she enjoys photography, running, playing basketball, and exploring new coffee shops.