Away from family during festivals? Feeling festival loneliness while living far from home is more common than you think. The glow of diyas lights up every street, but somehow your own space feels darker. Festival WhatsApp groups are flooded with family photos and celebration videos, while you are scrolling alone.
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Young adults aged 18–34 are now among the loneliest age groups, with 30% reporting daily feelings of loneliness, according to a February 2024 American Psychiatric Association poll. Whether you're experiencing Diwali depression, holiday sadness, or simply missing family during celebrations, the festival season can amplify feelings of isolation.
Dr. Anjalika Atrey, Consultant Psychiatrist at CritiCare Asia Hospital, Juhu, Mumbai, reminds us:
“Festivals are not just about being together, but about remembering together and memory has no geography.”
Festival seasons bring pressure: the need to meet expectations, host gatherings, or just “be happy.”
When your reality doesn’t match the glittering world around you, loneliness and sadness can creep in. Researchers call this festive blues, an intense feelings of isolation or melancholy during celebrations, especially when you’re away from family or experiencing recent loss.
Even small rituals can make a big difference.
Dr. Atrey says:
“Try creating micro-moments of joy: lighting a diya, cooking one familiar dish, or calling someone you care about. These small rituals remind your mind: you are not alone.”
Why it works:
Sensory experiences like light, smell, taste, sound may trigger happy memories and help you feel present.
Try this:
Light traditional lamps or candles: Even a single diya can transform your space
Cook one festival dish: It doesn't need to be elaborate, even a simplified version connects you to tradition
Create a festive corner: Dedicate a small space in your home with decorations or meaningful objects
Wear festival clothes: Dressing for the occasion signals to your brain that this time is special
Connections matter. Ray and Rushing (2025) found that nurturing existing relationships is one of the most effective ways to cope with loneliness.
1. For Long-Distance Connections:
Schedule specific video calls during festival rituals (not just quick texts)
Share meals virtually, cook together on video call and eat "together"
Send voice notes instead of texts hearing voices creates deeper connection
Create shared photo albums where family members can contribute festival moments
2. For Local Connections:
Reach out to friends or colleagues who are also away from family
Attend community festival celebrations or cultural events
Visit neighbors, even brief in-person interactions help
Join local cultural organizations or groups celebrating the festival
Dr. Atrey offers this reframe: "Distance doesn't always mean disconnection, sometimes it's an invitation to build a new sense of belonging within yourself."
Ways to Build Community:
Volunteer during festivals: Animal shelters, food banks, and community centers often need extra hands
Join cultural or religious gatherings: Many organizations welcome newcomers during festivals
Host a small gathering: Invite others who are away from family to share a meal
Participate in community events: Check local listings for festival celebrations open to the public
Connect through shared interests: Join clubs or groups related to your hobbies
Healthy changes in lifestyle, including eating healthily, exercising, and curbing substance use were reported by lonely persons as enhancing overall well-being and perhaps increasing confidence and opportunities to approach others.
Physical Activity as Emotional Medicine:
Take walks in your neighborhood to see festival decorations
Join a gym or fitness class (creates routine social contact)
Try yoga or meditation to manage difficult emotions
Maintain regular sleep patterns despite emotional distress
Loneliness is the state of distress or discomfort that results when one perceives a gap between one's desires for social connection and actual experiences of it. Understanding this can help you respond to your feelings with kindness rather than self-blame.
Acknowledge Without Judgment:
Allow yourself to feel sad without forcing happiness
Recognize that you are not the only one feeling this way, loneliness is something we are all vulnerable to
Journal about your feelings without trying to "fix" them immediately
Reframe Negative Thoughts: We might repeatedly think about what we could have done differently to prevent feeling alone, but rumination does no good, we need to take action instead of getting caught up in negative thought cycles.
Your festival doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. The heart of celebration is connection with the family across distances also with new communities where you are, and at last with yourself.
Dr. Atrey reminds us: “Distance need not equal emotional disconnection.” By creating small rituals, investing in relationships, building new communities, caring for your body, and treating yourself with compassion, you can navigate this season with resilience and joy.
"Sometimes Distance is an invitation to build a new sense of belonging within yourself."
Dr Anjalika Atrey, Consultant Psychiatrist at CritiCare Asia Hospital, Juhu , Mumbai
