It's rare that I find myself with an opportunity to prove that I am, in fact, Indian. I certainly look the part, but being Catholic means that my family doesn’t experience much of the flash and color associated with most Indian celebrations. But the one holiday my family does go all out for is Onam, a harvest festival with a complicated and mythic history. Preparation starts days in advance, and everyone in my family is enlisted to help my mother prepare every vegetarian coconut dish she can think of from scratch. During the feast, everyone comes dressed in traditional clothing. We eat off of banana leaves harvested from my backyard in California. I would say it’s a little like Thanksgiving: A lot of good food, nature-themed décor and gratitude for where we are and where we came from.

Teresa Mathew is an LSA sophomore and an assistant photo editor for The Michigan Daily.