Diwali is the Festival of Lights and is held every fall in India. This festival is a five day event devoted to being with family and friends, eating delicious sweets, and lighting small clay lamps (and/or shooting off fireworks). It is the celebration of the triumph of good over evil and thus has spiritual significance for the people here.
My husband and I, being from the US, decided to stay in on Diwali and cook our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We knew that everyone else would be enjoy good food with family so we would do the same. Our little meal consisted of huge smoked turkey legs, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole (with the marshmallow topping as I could not find pecans here), rolls, and apple pie for dessert. A British friend of ours who was feeling a bit lonely joined us for the meal on the night of Diwali.
We sat chatting for some time and enjoying our food when the fireworks began outside. First one and then another. Bang. Bang. Bang.
So we put on our shoes and headed out to see the show. Wow! Everywhere you looked the sky was filled with fireworks. Kids ran around on the street with sparklers held high in the air. Mothers looked on as sons and daughters lit fountains of colorful fire. Small children clapped and laughed in delight clad in their best attire. Everyone was in happy spirits. Homes were decorated with colors and lights as well. Clay lamps were placed on front porches, steps, and fragrant orange flowers lay strategically placed on homes and sidewalks. We walked around the neighborhood in wonder. Every door was open and every person we met greeted us with a "Happy Diwali." It was lovely.
In a central location in our neighborhood on a high grassy spot we simply sat down for about an hour and just enjoyed the festivities. Three foreigners in a strange land enjoying one of the most important holidays in the this country. I will genuinely never forget this day. Ever! Beautiful moment for sure.
My husband and I, being from the US, decided to stay in on Diwali and cook our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We knew that everyone else would be enjoy good food with family so we would do the same. Our little meal consisted of huge smoked turkey legs, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole (with the marshmallow topping as I could not find pecans here), rolls, and apple pie for dessert. A British friend of ours who was feeling a bit lonely joined us for the meal on the night of Diwali.
We sat chatting for some time and enjoying our food when the fireworks began outside. First one and then another. Bang. Bang. Bang.
So we put on our shoes and headed out to see the show. Wow! Everywhere you looked the sky was filled with fireworks. Kids ran around on the street with sparklers held high in the air. Mothers looked on as sons and daughters lit fountains of colorful fire. Small children clapped and laughed in delight clad in their best attire. Everyone was in happy spirits. Homes were decorated with colors and lights as well. Clay lamps were placed on front porches, steps, and fragrant orange flowers lay strategically placed on homes and sidewalks. We walked around the neighborhood in wonder. Every door was open and every person we met greeted us with a "Happy Diwali." It was lovely.
In a central location in our neighborhood on a high grassy spot we simply sat down for about an hour and just enjoyed the festivities. Three foreigners in a strange land enjoying one of the most important holidays in the this country. I will genuinely never forget this day. Ever! Beautiful moment for sure.
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