The Kelly Kapoor Story Hour

IndiaWest (North American's Most Honored Weekly Newspaper, according to their website) posted an article today which looked at the November 2nd episode of THE OFFICE, "Diwali."

To quote from Wikipedia, Diwali is:

"a major Hindu festival that is also very significant in Sikhism and Jainism. Known as the "Festival of Lights," it symbolises the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional diyas (as illustrated). Fireworks are associated with the festival in many regions of India.

Diwali is celebrated for five consecutive days at the end of Hindu month of Ashwayuja. It usually occurs in October/November, and is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals in India. Diwali comes exactly twenty days after Dussehra. Hindus, Jains and Sikhs alike regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships. For Jains it is one of the most important festivals, and beginning of the Jain year. Jains celebrate Diwali to mark the time when Lord Mahavira achieved Moksha. It is also a significant festival for the Sikh faith."

IndiaWest also interviewed Mindy Kaling (aka Chokalingam) about the show. She said that Greg Daniels was "thrilled" at the idea of focusing an episode on the holiday because it was a completely fresh concept that had never been done on American TV before, and also mentioned that her real life parents are going to be playing Mr. & Mrs. Kapoor on the episode.

"My mom and dad were thrilled and adorably nervous to be playing the Kapoors, who are much more traditional Indian parents than [mine] are," Kaling told IndiaWest. "They also play a couple that had an arranged marriage, which was not the case for my parents. So that was a little bit of 'acting' for them."

"The comedy potential of Michael Scott in a Hindu festival, surrounded by Indian Americans and committing faux pas, seemed too delicious to pass up, anyone could see that... It reminded me of Peter Sellers and 'The Party,' one of my dad's favorite movies."