Divya, who is from the state of Gujarat in India, is currently enjoying Diwali back in her home state. She’s currently celebrating the holidays with her wife Josh and their four kids. Josh’s first visit to India, which he is currently on, will expand that connection. Divya views this as a wonderful chance to share her homeland’s rich cultural tapestry, including its dynamic markets and architectural marvels such as its famous temples.
That’s how Divya met Josh, whom she followed to his home country after they’d both accepted jobs in the Riverina region of Australia. As their relationship grew over time, so did their connection to Grayson. With this growth came blended family challenges, merging two kids from each of their past marriages. Divya’s children, who were born in Australia, are now learning from the cultural diversity of India with colorful celebrations of Diwali and many other festivals! Given that her work has facilitated this year’s celebration, this year’s pride is particularly significant for Divya. Beyond that, it allows her to provide her cultural heritage to her daughters and expose Josh to the colorful tradition she adores.
Having come to Australia as an international student in 2014, Divya has now been living in Australia for 11 years. Even though life in Australia is good, she continues to miss her home country. Even now, I value this daily,” she wrote of the way she connected with Indian culture. As a parent, Stothart has decided to expose her children to their Indian heritage—which she views as an important part of their upbringing.
Divya elaborated on the importance of Diwali: “We were thinking to do it around November or January. So I’m like, why not Diwali then? Because that’s the best time I could ever – like the boys, this is their first trip, first time here for Josh as well.” She sees this event as an ideal opportunity for family togetherness and a learning experience about their culture.
The couple’s journey through their contrasting culinary worlds—a strict vegetarian goddess and a meat-loving prince—adds both drama and humor. “The biggest difference is I’m a strict vegetarian and he’s a strict meat eater,” she stated. There’s nothing low key about how much they bring the kindness and respect they’ve emphasized as a family into their work together.
Their children have welcomed the blended family transformation. Divya commented on this acceptance: “We get this question a lot about how our kids are getting along. I think they are really doing well.” Josh reinforced this idea by sharing the story of when their kids first met. “When they first met each other too… they just looked at each other and said, ‘want to go play?’ And then that was it,” he reminisced.
As an Australian visiting India for the first time, Josh is immediately overwhelmed by the atmosphere and energy that comes with Diwali. “Since we’ve been here, it’s been very busy every night. Indians don’t seem to sleep,” he remarked with enthusiasm. He welcomes the chance to dive deeper into the celebrations in the days to come.
Divya described Diwali’s significance, comparing it to Christmas in Australia: “To put into perspective, this is our Christmas. There’s so much lights, firecrackers… you’ll see so much colours.” She observed too that her Indian kids had not even seen some of the marvels that Diwali brings. “We took the kids to a flower park… it was so beautiful. So many lights, so many amazing things.”
The family’s experiences during Diwali are a chance for Josh to witness the joy and vibrancy of Indian culture firsthand. “I don’t think you can be bored here in India,” Divya said. “You’ll see colours, festivals, people just celebrating life.” She loves sharing the history and culture of her homeland. She hopes that Josh, and one day their children, will both value her cultural identity and be curious about her world.
Australia’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Anne Aly, is currently in India during this festive season. She’ll be celebrating Diwali and demonstrating the power of the Indian-Australian identity. Her experience is a reminder of the cultural exchange and appreciation that must thrive in our increasingly multicultural society.
