The festival of lights is finding new ways to shine. No longer limited to oil-lit wicks in clay pots, the flicker of LED diyas, glow of bhajans from phone screens and the swirl of virtual rangolis have propelled Divali into the digital age. What was once confined to temples and family front yards now radiates through Instagram reels, WhatsApp statuses, and live YouTube broadcasts, proof that the spirit of illumination adapts with every generation.
For Karishma Ramoutar, dancer, choreographer, and PRO of the Mc Bean Ramleela Group, social media has become a bridge between devotion and discovery. She sees first-hand how younger people now experience rituals not only through live participation but through digital connection. “Social media has changed the way younger people interact with Ramleela in that they look forward to different experiences every year that they can capture and share,” she said. “This actually encourages them to attend as they document and share their experiences. Additionally, those that cannot attend look forward to virtually experiencing the event through either the group’s or their friends’ eyes.”
