The Next Generation: Meet Amaya Gupta

Kids & Culture: The Diwali Edition



Featuring Amaya - Daughter of The Gupta Family 

What is your first name & how old are you?

My name is Amaya and I am eight years old.

Does it have meaning and/or why did your family choose it?

Amaya means a princess in Hindi.

What cultures or ethnic backgrounds do you identify with?

We are an African American and South Asian family.

Do you celebrate any major holidays that defer from traditional American holidays? If so, which one is your favorite?

Yes! We also celebrate Diwali (the Festival of Lights) and Holi (the festival of colors). We don’t have a favorite because we love what they all represent.

We love adding new books to our library and sharing with our community. What book did you choose to share and celebrate cultural diversity and why?

 

I Love Masala Me - it is a multicultural children’s book written by my family @growingupguptas that celebrates children that come from multicultural/south Asian interracial backgrounds. It is my favorite book because I can see myself in the characters. It is one of the reasons my dad and mom authored the children’s book.

What does Diwali mean to you and how do you celebrate it?

Diwali means that good always wins over evil and that light is greater than darkness. It is a time for renewal and celebration. Some of the ways we celebrate Diwali are by singing Diwali songs, turning on all the lights in our home, making Indian food together, cleaning our home, getting new clothing, and having s’mores around the fire pit at night.

Share one fun fact about you that most don’t know.

I love MATH!

**To learn more about Amaya and her family, follow them @growingupguptas - Amaya is pictured wearing our Jyotsna Biggie Bow.