>>> PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ >>> HEY, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "THE WELCOME MAT."

TODAY´S GUEST IS SOMEONE WHO IS VERY CLOSE TO THE SHOW WHO HAS GRACED US TODAY WITH HER PRESENCE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA INSTEAD OF BEHIND IT.

TELL US, SIERRA ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR CULTURE.

>> WELL, I´M VI BORN AND RAISED.

I´VE BEEN WORKING WITH WTJX ABOUT 13 YEARS NOW AND I AM CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM MANAGER AND MY JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT SHOWS LIKE "THE WELCOME MAT" GET ON AIR ON TIME.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOU, BECAUSE, I MEAN, EVERY WEEK WOULD BE LIKE, WHEN ARE THEY COMING.

RECENTLY, CELEBRATED BY MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD, EVEN HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLAND, AND POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I´VE HEARD ABOUT THE CELEBRATIONS GROWING UP.

WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY SIGNIFY?

WHAT IS DI WALLY?

>> IT´S THE INDIAN NEW YEAR, IT MARKS THE END OF THE RELIGIOUS CALENDAR AND IT´S A TIME WHERE YOU REFLECT, YOU THANK GOD FOR BLESSINGS, AND THEN YOU ALSO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND EAT GOOD FOOD.

SO MY FAMILY, I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, SO WE HAVE A SMALL COMMUNITY, SO OUR CELEBRATIONS WERE REALLY SMALL, JUST IN THE HOME, AND I REMEMBER MY MOM USED TO WORK A FULL DAY OF JOBS, 9:00 TO 5:00, ON HER FEET ON MAIN STREET, COME HOME, COOK A FULL MEAL WITH ALL THE CURRY.

>> THE SPREAD, OH.

>> YES.

AND THEN CELEBRATE, RIGHT?

SO THAT´S HOW WE CELEBRATE IT NOW.

AGAIN, MY PERSPECTIVE IT´S THE VI PERSPECTIVE.

IN TRINIDAD WHEN I USED TO VISIT, IT WAS A BIGGER CELEBRATION WHERE YOU HAVE FIREWORKS AND LIGHT OIL LAMPS AND PUT THEM OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND SO FORTH AND YOU HAVE FAMILY, FRIENDS, YOU GO TO TEMPLE.

IT WAS MORE OF A BIGGER CELEBRATION.

>> SO DIFFERENT FAMILIES MAY CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE HOLIDAY IS ABOUT REFLECTION OVER THE PAST YEAR, INTROSPECTION AND JUST GIVING THANKS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE.

>> YOU DON´T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A HINDU TO CELEBRATE DIWALI.

YOU CAN CELEBRATE IN THE U.S., CANADA, EVEN OTHER PLACES IN ASIA, CELEBRATE DIWALI, YEAH.

>> THAT´S PRETTY COOL.

SO I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOUR MOM HAS HAD TO WORK NINE-HOUR SHIFTS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN STILL COME HOME TO CELEBRATE.

SO MAKING YOUR CULTURAL HOLIDAY WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A -- I DON´T WANT TO SAY A HINDRANCE OR AN ISSUE, BUT YOU´VE HAD TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT WAYS TO INCORPORATE IT WHILE STILL -- HONOR IT.

>> I WOULDN´T NECESSARILY CALL IT A HINDRANCE, TO BE HONEST.

WE JUST ADAPT, RIGHT?

AND IT´S JUST -- YOU JUST MAKE IT WORK, RIGHT?

IF WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE AFTER YOU GO TO WORK, THEN THAT´S WHAT IT IS.

OFF OR THE DAY OFF, THEN THAT´S GREAT.

BUT I REMEMBER US JUST MAKING THE TIME TO CELEBRATE AND IT´S JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL, BECAUSE IT´S A PART OF HER CULTURE, WHICH SHE GREW UP CELEBRATING THAT´S PASSED DOWN TO US, AND OF COURSE EVERYONE IS GOING TO CELEBRATE IN THEIR OWN WAY.

EVERY GENERATION DOES IT DIFFERENTLY.

SO WE TRY TO LIKE ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRADITION.

>> YEAH.

SO LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.

YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES THAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS FROM THE TRINIDAD CARIBBEAN PERSPECTIVE.

SO WHERE IS -- WHAT OTHER PERSPECTIVE IS THERE?

THE INDIAN PERSPECTIVE?

IS THERE AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE, OR THE MORE EASTERN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE, DOES IT DIFFER FROM A CARIBBEAN PERSPECTIVE?

>> I DON´T KNOW.

I GREW UP IN THE VI AND I HAVE ROOTS.

I DON´T KNOW.

I CAN´T SPEAK ON THE PERSPECTIVE, THEIR EXPERIENCE, BUT I COULD JUST SAY FOR US -- I FEEL LIKE OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY INCLUSIVE.

I REMEMBER BEING SMALL AND, LIKE, SPEAKING TO MY FRIENDS ABOUT IT AND THEY WERE JUST SO INTERESTED AND WANTED TO KNOW MORE AND STUFF.

SO I REMEMBER BRINGING SWEETS TO SCHOOL.

>> I WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BRINGING SWEETS FOR BECAUSE I LOVE THE FOOD.

THE FOOD IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT DIWALI, THE SWEETS.

I LOVE THE FOOD.

SO WHAT KIND OF SWEETS?

WHAT KIND OF FOOD?

>> OKAY.

SO -- >> STIMULATE MY SENSES.

>> WE HAVE A FUDGE TYPE OF SWEET AND YOU CAN PUT NUTS ON IT, SPRINKLES.

LITERALLY, YOU SHOULD NOT BE WORRYING ABOUT A DIET WHEN YOU ARE EATING SOME OF THESE THINGS.

THEN THERE´S SOMETHING WHICH IS -- IMAGINE LIKE A SMALL DOUGHNUT HOLE DIPPED IN SYRUP, LIKE ROSE FLAVORED SYRUP.

>> ROSE FLAVORED SYRUP?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> I WOULD DEFINITELY DO THAT.

SO HOW IS IT GROWING UP HINDU IN A PREDOMINANTLY CHRISTIAN CULTURE?

HAS IT HAD ANY EFFECT ON YOU?

>> IT HASN´T INTERFERED WITH MY BEING ABLE TO PRACTICE.

ACTUALLY, THE HOUSEHOLD THAT I GREW UP IN WAS MULTI-FAITH, PART OF MY FAMILY IS CHRISTIAN AND THE OTHER PART IS HINDU.

SO I GREW UP GOING TO CHURCH, AS WELL AS READING, SO IT WAS VERY INCLUSIVE.

AGAIN, MY EXPERIENCE, MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUPER INCLUSIVE.

I REMEMBER MY UNCLE, HE CHANGED HIS FAITH TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN, BUT HE STILL HELD ONTO CERTAIN PRACTICES AND JUST THINGS THAT HE TAUGHT HIS KIDS, YOU KNOW.

AND THERE WASN´T ANY ISSUE IN THE HOUSEHOLD ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH, LIKE YOU SAID, A VERY INCLUSIVE CULTURE TO BE A PART OF, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT GIVES YOU A MORE WORLD VIEW ON A LOT OF THINGS WHEN YOU´RE ABLE TO ADAPT OR INCORPORATE DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEMS OR CULTURES INTO YOUR OWN PRACTICES.

WHAT IS THE -- I WANT TO SAY IT RIGHT.

>> THAT´S A RELIGIOUS TEXT THAT´S THE MOST KNOWN IN THE HINDU RELIGION.

I WANT TO SAY IT´S A BIBLE, BUT IT´S ONE OF THE SPIRITUAL TEXTS YOU CAN READ.

JUST LIKE HOW THE BIBLE HAS STORIES, THE BHAGAVAD GITA HAS STORIES, TOO.

>> THERE ARE SOME OTHER TRADITIONAL HOLIDAYS, LIKE THE ONE I KNOW OF IS HOLY?

>> THAT´S THE FUN ONE.

>> I KNOW THE FUN ONE.

THERE´S COLORS.

WHAT´S THAT ABOUT?

>> HOLY IS ONE OF THE SPRING FESTIVALS.

IT CELEBRATES, YOU KNOW, SPRING.

>> LIKE THE SPRING EQUINOX?

>> KIND OF.

YOU KNOW, IT´S CELEBRATING NEW LIFE.

SO END OF FEBRUARY OR GOING INTO MARCH, KIND OF LIKE AROUND OUR CARNIVAL, AND IT´S LITERALLY A PARTY IN THE STREETS OR IN YOUR BACK YARD -- >> MY KIND OF THING.

>> -- WHERE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU BASICALLY SIP ON SOME LIBATIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE FUN.

THAT´S REALLY WHAT IT IS.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIT.

I´LL TELL YOU, YOU´LL FIND ME AT DIWALI FOR FOOD AND AT HOLY FOR THE WET SIP MASS POURING.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

>> MASS POURING.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

WHAT OTHER HOLIDAYS DO YOU CELEBRATE?

>> SO DIWALI IS USUALLY THE END OF THE YEAR.

BEFORE DIWALI THERE´S A NINE-DAY FESTIVAL CELEBRATING THE DIFFERENT FEMALE GODDESSES AND SO FORTH.

>> I LOVE THAT.

SAY IT AGAIN.

>> NAVATRI, IT´S A NINE-DAY CELEBRATION AND IT´S USUALLY A FEW WEEKS BEFORE DIWALI.

>> IS THERE A CELEBRATION FOR HONORING MALE GODS OR DIETIES?

>> YES, I THINK IT´S ABOUT A WEEK.

ITS USUALLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

>> THEY´RE NOT AS IMPORTANT.

THAT´S WHERE IT´S AT, DEFINITELY.

SO I´M GOING TO PROBE A LITTLE BIT.

DOES THE TRINI HINDU CULTURE AND EASTERN HINDU CULTURE, DO YOU GUYS -- I KNOW THEY´RE BOTH ON ISLANDS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> DO YOU GUYS COME TOGETHER A LOT?

IS THERE SOME COHESIVENESS BETWEEN YOU?

IS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF SEGREGATION?

BECAUSE IF I DON´T KNOW, I SEE AND I´M JUST, LIKE, INDIAN.

>> AGAIN, MY PERSPECTIVE IS, YOU KNOW, I´VE BEEN MORE INTO THE TRINI VI COMMUNITY, NEVER REALLY INTERACTED WITH THE INDIAN COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THERE´S AN INDIAN ASSOCIATION IN THE VI AND IT´S A BIG ORGANIZATION.

THEY HAVE -- THEY CELEBRATE AND DO DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS FOR THE HINDU FESTIVALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BUT I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER REALLY INTERACTED WITH IT.

>> YEAH.

WHAT MAKES THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NICE IS HOW WE´VE ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE MELTING POT OF DIFFERENT CULTURES.

TRINIDAD, DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MORE RECOGNIZABLE ONES.

WHAT ARE MEMORIES GROWING UP IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD THAT YOU ARE PROUD OF?

WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICES, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU COULD COME TO THE PEOPLE, YOUR PEERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND SAY THIS IS WHO I AM, THIS IS MY CULTURE, AND I´M PROUD OF THIS?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE FOOD.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LIKE TWO OR THREE SHOPS HERE IN ST. THOMAS.

I KNOW ST. CROIX HAS MORE.

I FEEL LIKE ST. CROIX HAS A LOT MORE SPOTS AND I JUST WISH I COULD GO OVER THERE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH AND JUST PIG OUT.

>> I´M SORRY TO ALL MY PEOPLE, BUT IT´S JUST THE TRUTH, GET OVER IT.

>> DEFINITELY THE FOOD, OH, THE MUSIC.

JUST THE WHOLE VIBE.

JUST, LIKE, YOU COULD GO ANY PLACE, AND YOU JUST VIBE.

>> THAT´S TRUE.

HOW DOES IT FEEL GOING BACK TO TRINIDAD?

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU WENT BACK?

>> ACTUALLY, I WENT BACK IN -- I WENT BACK, AND IT GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS.

I WENT BACK IN 2020 BEFORE THE COVID, SO LITERALLY LIKE A MONTH OR SO BEFORE EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN AND I WENT FOR MY GRANDMA´S 90th BIRTHDAY.

SO IT WAS AMAZING.

THAT WAS THE LAST TIME.

I MEAN, I´M HOPING THAT I CAN GO BACK SOON, MAYBE FOR MORE CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE IT´S A BIG CELEBRATION.

>> YES.

SO WHEN YOU GO, YOU SEE YOUR AUNTS AND UNCLES.

>> UNCLES, GRANDMA, COUSINS, MILLIONS OF COUSINS THAT I HAVE.

>> WHO IS THE BEST COOK IN YOUR FAMILY?

I NEED TO KNOW WHO I´M COMING TO EAT FROM.

>> MY AUNT, SHE IS MY FATHER´S SISTER, ELDEST SISTER, AND, OH, MY GOSH, HER FOOD -- I REMEMBER SHE VISITED ME A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND BASICALLY ONE OF MY FRIENDS CAME OVER AND BASICALLY STOLE HER.

LIKE, CAN YOU LIVE IN THE HOUSE ALL THE TIME?

I´M LIKE, WHY ARE YOU HERE?

>> THAT WOULD BE ME.

SIERRA, I´M JUST GOING TO STICK RIGHT HERE WITH YOUR AUNTIE.

WHAT ABOUT TRINI MUSIC?

>> THIS COULD BE A WHOLE NOTHER SHOW.

TRINI MUSIC, IT´S SUCH A MELTING POT, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE THE AFRICAN -- YOU HAVE THE INDIANS, CHINESE.

IMAGINE ALL OF THAT, AND JUST THE VARIETY OF MUSIC THAT CAN COME FROM ALL OF THOSE, RIGHT?

SO WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CALYPSO AND SOMETHING CALLED CHUTNEY MUSIC, WHICH IS A MIX OF LIKE INDIAN/HINDU MUSIC.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I WANT TO HEAR.

SERIOUSLY, LIKE AFTER THE SHOW.

PULL UP SOME CHUTNEY MUSIC FOR ME.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS, SOME STAPLE COMPARISONS FROM TRINI TO THE VI?

>> SOME DIFFERENCES?

>> COMPARISONS, DIFFERENCES, SAME.

>> HONESTLY, THERE´S NOT MUCH.

LIKE, MY EXPERIENCE IN TRINIDAD IS HERE AND, LIKE, HONESTLY, THE CULTURE, CERTAIN THINGS ARE DIFFERENT, BUT IT´S FLEXIBLE MOVING FROM HERE TO -- >> IT´S EASY TO ADAPT?

>> YEAH, THE ONLY THING I COULD SAY IS TRINIDAD IS JUST BIGGER, SO, LIKE, HERE IT MAY TAKE LIKE TWO MINUTES TO GO DOWN THE ROAD, BUT IN TRINIDAD YOU´RE, LIKE, MAYBE DRIVING FOR TEN MINUTES TO GO VISIT A RELATIVE OR SOMETHING.

>> YEAH.

SO TRINIDAD, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IS A MELTING POT OF ITS OWN, JUST LIKE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF GET TO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES IN ONE PLACE?

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT TRINIDAD, I FEEL LIKE I´M GOING TO GET OFF THE PLANE AND IT´S GOING TO BE A CELEBRATION.

IT DOESN´T EVEN MATTER.

IT´S WEDNESDAY.

>> WHEN YOU STEP OFF.

>> YEAH.

>> IT IS.

WELL, WHEN YOU STEP OFF THE PLANE, TO ME, I FEEL LIKE THE FIRST THING I HAVE TO DO IS GET SOME FOOD, BECAUSE YOU´RE LANDING MOST LIKELY AT 11:00 AT NIGHT BECAUSE THAT´S HOW THE FLIGHTS ARE SET UP.

USUALLY, THE FIRST THING I STOP AND GET IS DOUBLES OR SOME TYPE OF, LIKE -- SOMETHING ON THE ROAD.

>> WHAT DOUBLES?

>> SO DOUBLES IS -- SO YOU´RE FAMILIAR, OF COURSE, SO YOU KNOW THE FILL-IN IS LIKE THE CHICK PEAS AND POTATOES?

I WAS GOING TO SAY OLIVES, BUT POTATOES.

>> POTATOES?

>> YEAH.

SO IMAGINE THE CHICK PEA AND POTATOES COOKED DOWN TOGETHER, RIGHT?

AND THERE IS LIKE A SMALL -- WE CALL IT BARRA, BUT IMAGINE A SMALL ROUND VERSION, BUT MORE FLAKY.

AND YOU PUT THE FILL-IN ON AND IT´S CALLED DOUBLES BECAUSE IT´S TWO, SO YOU STACK THEM AND ROLL IT AND EAT IT.

ACTUALLY, I THINK THERE´S SOME SHOPS IN ST. CROIX.

>> SO I´M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NAME.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO THE ROTISSERIE SHOP, THE MEAT THAT´S ROLLED UP HAS THE FILLING, RIGHT?

SO IT IS DIFFERENT.

IT DOESN´T HAVE THE FILLING AND IT´S LITERALLY LIKE A BUST-UP SHIRT, THAT´S WHERE IT CAME FROM.

WHEN IT´S COOKING, YOU JUST SMASH IT TOGETHER.

>> THAT IS FUNNY.

THAT´S KIND OF LIKE -- IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF JOHNNY CAKE, IT´S ACTUALLY JOURNEY CAKE AND IT WAS MADE FOR THE LONG JOURNEYS, SO IT´S LIKE LITERALLY -- IT JUST MEANS NOTHING [ LAUGHTER ] >> SO THE BREAD, IS IT THE FILLING?

>> IT´S BREAD, YEAH.

>> SO WHAT´S IN IT IS THE CURRY.

SO OVER HERE THEY ROLL IT UP TOGETHER AND IT´S PACKAGED AS ONE MEAL.

IN TRINIDAD THEY DO THE SAME THING, BUT I´M HOME, I´M COOKING AND WHATEVER CURRY.

I´M NOT ROLLING IT TOGETHER.

I´M EATING IT SEPARATE.

>> SO ONE MORE MEAL.

I DON´T KNOW IF IT´S LOCAL TO TRINIDAD OR NOT, BUT I KNOW I ATE IT, BUT CORN SOUP.

OH, MY GOSH.

>> THAT´S A CARNIVAL STAPLE.

>> JUST TAKE ME NOW.

WOW.

>> IT´S EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID.

IT´S CORN SOUP, RIGHT?

BUT IT IS THE MOST DELICIOUS SOAP, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF DRINKS AND YOU JUST NEED -- >> THAT IS DEFINITELY ONE DELICIOUS SOUP.

I WAS, LIKE, CORN SOUP, HMM?

I WAS AT A PARTY AND I WAS WORKING THE EVENT, AND IT WAS AFTER THE EVENT, THERE WAS BARELY ANYTHING LEFT EXCEPT THIS CORN SOUP.

I´M LIKE, CORN SOUP, OKAY, I NEED SOME SOUP RIGHT NOW, I´LL JUST TRY IT.

WOW.

>> AND YOU HAVE THE PIECES OF CORN AND THE DUMPLING.

LISTEN -- >> YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME, RIGHT?

>> I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE I NEED TO TAKE.

I NEED TO START MAKING A LIST AND START BUYING TICKETS.

>> SO ARE YOU A COOK?

>> YEAH, I DO.

>> YOU DON´T HAVE TO GIVE ME A COMPLETE RECIPE, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SEASONINGS THAT YOU USE CULTURALLY?

MAYBE IF YOU CAN, IF YOU DO HAVE A RECIPE FOR ME -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> SO THE SEASONINGS DON´T NECESSARILY VARY FROM VI COOKING.

WE USE THE SAME, CILANTRO, BUT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT STRAIN OF ENTRANT -- CILANTRO WE USE AND IT´S LIKE CILANTRO TIMES 1,000 HOW IT SMELLS.

SO WE USE THE SAME SEASONING, HOT PEPPER, SCALLIONS, THYME, GARLIC, ONIONS.

>> SO DO YOU USE MORE TURMERIC?

>> SO WHEN YOU´RE MAKING THE CURRYS, THERE´S A CURRY POWDER THAT I USE, AND SO THAT IS THE ONE.

SO THE TYPE OF CURRY THAT WE USE IS CALLED MADRAS CURRY.

YOU CAN GET IT AT A GROCERY STORE.

AND USUALLY THAT´S ALL WE USE.

WE USE GROUND TURMERIC AND GROUND CUMIN.

WHAT ELSE?

THERE´S ALSO CALLED GARAM MASALA, AND MASALA MEANS MIX-UP, SO A HOT MIX-UP.

>> IS IT A POWDER?

>> IT´S A POWDER, YEAH.

>> OKAY.

YOU LIKE HOT FOOD?

>> I DO.

>> DO ALL TRINI PEOPLE LIKE HOOT FOOD?

>> I CAN´T SPEAK FOR ALL.

I LIKE HOT FOOD.

>> YOUR FAMILY LIKES HOT FOOD?

>> ACTUALLY, NO, MY SISTER IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE.

SHE DOES NOT LIKE HOT FOOD.

ONLY NOW IN HER ADULTHOOD SHE´S STARTING TO, LIKE, LIKE IT.

I´LL PUT A LITTLE PIECE OF PEPPER WHEN I´M COOKING.

BUT SHE DOES NOT LIKE HOT FOOD.

>> IF I GO TO TRINIDAD, COULD I FIND FRESHLY GROUND CUMIN, FRESHLY GROUND CURRY POWDER?

DO THEY MAKE IT?

>> IT IS PACKAGED.

I DON´T KNOW IF IT´S MADE THERE.

BUT I KNOW IT´S PACKAGED THERE AND SHIPPED OUT.

>> OKAY.

>> LIKE SPICES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I DON´T KNOW IF IT´S GROUND THERE.

BUT IN TERMS OF MAKING YOUR OWN POWDER AND STUFF LIKE THAT, ONCE YOU HAVE THE WHOLE SPICES, YOU CAN DO THAT, YEAH.

>> I JUST IMAGINE THAT I CAN GET ALL KINDS OF FRESH SEASONINGS AND FRESH SPICES FROM TRINIDAD.

I DON´T KNOW.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I FORGOT TO MENTION ABOUT DIWALI.

ONE OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT GOES ON MORE IN TRINIDAD, WELL, IN TRINIDAD, IS THERE´S SOMETHING CALLED THE DIWALI NAGAR, WHICH IS LIKE A FAIR, ESSENTIALLY.

SO YOU CAN GET ALL THE SWEETS, ALL THE FOODS, CLOTHING, JEWELRY.

YEAH, ANYTHING PERTAINING TO JUST THE CULTURE, YOU CAN GET THERE.

>> SPEAKING OF CLOTHING, DO YOU DRESS UP FOR DIWALI?

>> HONESTLY, I DON´T HAVE ANY OF THOSE CLOTHES HERE.

BACK AT HOME CLOTHES, THAT´S WHERE I WOULD WEAR THEM.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF JEWELRY AND STUFF, LIKE THE BENDIES.

>> I LIKE THOSE.

I WEAR THOSE FOR NO REASON.

>> THAT´S AWESOME.

I REMEMBER GROWING UP, I REMEMBER WHEN PEOPLE STARTED DOING THAT, I WAS, LIKE, YEAH, I´VE BEEN DOING THAT.

>> I LOVE IT.

I LOVE DOING IT.

PEOPLE USED TO LOOK AT ME, LIKE, WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?

I LOVE IT, OKAY.

ON MY BIG FOREHEAD.

>> YOUR FOREHEAD IS NOT BIG.

>> WHAT ARE THE CLOTHING CALLED?

>> DRAPED DOWN, THAT´S A WHOLE PRODUCTION.

YOU LITERALLY NEED ANOTHER PERSON.

I THINK IT´S A FEW FEET OF FABRIC THAT IS PLEATED AND THEN JUST DRAPED AROUND.

THAT´S TOO MUCH FOR ME.

>> DO YOU LIKE WEARING THEM?

>> SO FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

I LIKE THE LONGER TOPS AND, LIKE, THEY´RE LIKE LEGGINGS TYPE OF -- >> I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

>> THOSE ARE CUTE.

I CAN ROCK WITH THOSE.

>> A BIT MORE SIMPLE.

>> IT FEELS A BIT LIKE I CAN MOVE.

WITH A SARI I FEEL LIKE I CAN´T MOVE.

MORE SO, I CAN´T RUN IF I NEED TO RUN.

I´M TAKING DINOSAUR STEPS.

>> WHAT DO THE GUYS WEAR?

>> SO THE GUYS WEAR LIKE SIMILAR TO WHAT I SAID WITH THE LONG TOP AND PANTS.

AND ALSO A WRAP SORT OF PANTS.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WEAR THEM?

I MEAN, FOR ME, IF I HAD A CHANCE TO WEAR THEM, I WOULD FEEL EXTREMELY ROYAL.

HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WEAR THEM?

I DON´T KNOW IF IT´S JUST MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

>> YOU FEEL DRESSED UP.

IT´S A THING.

THE LAST TIME I WORE A SARI WAS TO MY GRANDMOTHER´S 90th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND IT WAS A PRODUCTION AND YOU FEEL DRESSED UP FOR THE OCCASION AND IT FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW -- AGAIN, PART OF MY CULTURE, IT´S LIKE WHO I AM.

>> RIGHT.

WE ONLY HAVE A BRIEF MOMENT LEFT, BUT I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

DURING YOUR WEDDING, DO THE WOMEN DRESS THEMSELVES?

>> I DON´T KNOW.

I´M SORRY, BUT -- >> THAT´S OKAY.

>> FROM WHAT I´VE SEEN, IS THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE DRESSING THEM, HELPING THEM GET READY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT I´M NOT MARRIED, SO I WOULDN´T KNOW THAT.

FOR MY COUSINS AND SO FORTH, YES, LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR SET OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THE DAY.

>> I HEARD SOMEWHERE, AND DON´T QUOTE ME, BECAUSE THAT´S WHY I ASKED, I HEARD SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN CULTURE, THE WOMEN AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR WEDDING, THEY DON´T EVEN LIKE BATHE THEMSELVES.

THEY HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TO DO ALL OF IT.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS BEEN REALLY FUN, BUT WE HAVE TO TUNE OUT.

WE´VE GOT TO COME TO A CLOSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN WITH US TODAY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND COMING FROM BEHIND THE CAMERA AND HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ME.

IT HAS REALLY BEEN A PLEASURE BECAUSE I LEARNED A LOT TODAY.

SEE YOU GUYS NEXT TIME.

MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN ON THE WTJX FACEBOOK PAGE AND LEAVE US COMMENTS IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCES WITH DIWALI OR THE TRINIDAD CULTURE.

TUNE IN NEXT TIME.

SEE YOU.

♫♫