The Office Celebrates Diwali

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Who cares if there is no stamp commemorating Diwali when NBC’s Emmy Award winning comedy The Office has an episode commemorating the Hindu holiday. The episode, written by Mindy Kaling, born Vera Chokalingam, (also author of the Diwali song (link via nirali magazine)-, the Hindu answer to Adam Sandler’s Hannukah Song) airs tonight on NBC at 8:30 EST. Tonight’s episode, simply titled “Diwali,” has Michael played by Steve Carell, urging all the staff to support Kelly Kapoor, played by Mindy Kaling, and attend a local celebration of the Hindu Festival of Lights. As Ryan (B.J. Novak) nervously faces Kelly’s family at the event, Michael, his new girlfriend Carol, and the staff sample a range of Indian culture and cuisine. Since the episode hasn’t aired yet, we can’t say too much about the content, but the fact that the show is happening is pretty cool. I hope some YouTube links will pop up in the comments after the show airs. Check out Nirali Magazine’s blog for an exclusive look at the show.

66 thoughts on “The Office Celebrates Diwali”

  1. but some of the jokes made me choke.

    fair enough …

    i just thought some of the comments were just kicking her a bit too hard … we talk about solidarity but do not show enough

  2. Jeet,

    Not from DoH but from Full House, a tv-series.

    I was just kidding in my previous post 🙂 However, we haven’t got to the latest season of ER in the UK yet. I do remember Full House though — hell of a long time ago now.

    Glad to see desis are gradually achieving greater visibility in American shows these days.

  3. While its not favorable to be a 7-11 clerk, cab driver or tech nerd, those are the roles that are available, and its bloody hard to get any work being desi.

    I know this wasn’t tongue-in-cheek but this is funny.

  4. Tamasha:

    We must be on the same wave-length: “choke-a-lingam” was my first thought, too! (and I don’t think my mind is in the gutter, but I did find the name rather “odd.”)

  5. “Kelly likes Zach Braff”,

    ahrr!! i first heard of this guy through garden state – later i found out that through someone zach blech is so dreamy and swoonworthy. (!!)

    now you tell me, he’s like a desi sex tool. i can get the tool part – but sexy!??. i swear – i will NEVER understand the female mind.

  7. Grade: C-…plus she never really explained what diwali is…coming from experience, most Indian-mericans can’t succintly explain it either and just give a vaguely stock answer that doesn’t really mean much…by the way what’s up with the goddess Kali mentions?

  8. Diwali like halloween?? WTF? That tells me that the writer has either thought so OR she probably actually heard some ABD making such a statement in real life.

    Or maybe she’s poking fun at people who think like that? I didn’t love the episode, but it’s satire, folks.

  9. I think the best part was the sisters saying something in Hindi to the guy. That was very real. And the dancing – the dudes did the get the curvy hand motion pretty good.

    Rest was predictable, another dumbed down version of what could have been.

    I would have loved to listened in on the re-writes.

  10. by the way what’s up with the goddess Kali mentions?

    and what was up with Kamasutra? Satire? yeah very bad satire!!

  11. OMG the LORD OF THE RINGS COMMENT??!??!? i cried i was laughing so hard.

    yeah it was predictable, but i LOVE THE OFFICE!!!! YAY DIWALI EPISODE!!

  12. Glad to see desis are gradually achieving greater visibility in American shows these days

    There was a desi on 30 Rock, too. A very small part.

  13. Diwali like halloween?? WTF? That tells me that the writer has either thought so OR she probably actually heard some ABD making such a statement in real life.

    C’mon you guys! THAT WAS THE JOKE: Michael was like, “Oh let me explain Diwali to you because Kelly can’t: It’s like Halloween!” That was the joke: Michael, as usual, was ALL WRONG. As exemplified later when he and his date showed up wearing Halloween costumes and no one else was in costume. He tried pointing out to his(v. annoyed and embarassed) date, “She’s dressed in a costume,” and his date said, “No, she’s dressed in a sari.” You might have caught that if you were paying attention and not busy getting pissed off and offended.

    I, for one, loved it. I really, really liked how Kelly on the show was like, we get together, wear pretty clothes, and have a big party, except it’s a Hindu holiday and not a Christian one! Does everything have to be a lecture?

  15. To Jai Singh: #41

    LOL, LOL. He’s just a good ol’ boy. Never meaning no harm…been in trouble with the law since the day he was born.

  16. He’s just a good ol’ boy. Never meaning no harm…been in trouble with the law since the day he was born.

    But enough about me. ahem