Diwali: A Festival of Light, A Season of Renewal for South Asian Women in Midlife

For South Asian women, Diwali has always been about light, lamps lit to welcome prosperity, new beginnings, and the triumph of hope over despair. But for women in midlife, navigating the changes of perimenopause and menopause, Diwali can also hold a more personal symbolism: the light we choose to shine within ourselves when everything feels uncertain.

Midlife is often a time of quiet reckoning. Our bodies shift with hot flushes, brain fog, sleepless nights, and aching joints. Emotionally, we may feel invisible, worn down by caregiving, cultural expectations, and the silence surrounding menopause. For many South Asian women, conversations about our bodies are still hushed, if they happen at all.

And yet, Diwali teaches us that darkness is never permanent. Just as the night sky is pierced by fireworks, so too can our stories pierce through silence. This is the season to light new lamps, of self-compassion, knowledge, and support.

This Diwali, instead of only clearing our homes, what if we cleared the beliefs that no longer serve us? What if we lit diyas for our self-worth, our health, and our right to thrive through midlife?

At The Sattva Collective CIC, we believe festivals are not only about tradition but transformation. Let this Diwali remind us: menopause is not decline, it is renewal, a chance to step into wisdom and light.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Diwali filled with light, healing, and renewal. May this season remind us that even in midlife’s changes, we carry within us a flame that never fades. Here’s to new beginnings, radiant health, and the joy of being truly seen. Happy Diwali x