Sunday, 3 November 2013

Happy Diwali!


As I write this, I can barely hear my own thoughts! Mumbai goes crazy tonight! Fireworks in gold, silver, red, green lit up the smokey sky, and we are not talking about a bit of firework around midnight - oh no, here we are talking daaays: hours after hours...  And like my friend said: "the louder the better, because then the bad spirits are scared off"  

 Ok. What - a -  festival! The mother of all Indian festivals! Diwali. The festival of lights. Last year, we celebrated in Goa, so this is our first Diwali at home- in Mumbai! And you know, we have been preparing and decorating. We have lit our diyas and put out our rangolis. We have been celebrating with friends and neighbors - and yet we are just in the middle of the festival! About time I popped in to wish you, dear reader, a Happy Diwali as well, I think!

Today is the maybe most important day, the day when goddess Lakshmi is worshiped. A day to gather with loved ones, to enjoy good food and sweets, and to welcome Lakshmi, praying she will bring wealth, health, and good fortune to your home. And send up fireworks - not to forget! That might also have been yesterday by the way - the fireworks:-)  

At Diwali we celebrate that light concur darkness and the victory of good over evil. Hindus have some important events associated with Diwali. One is the return of lord Rama to the kingdom Ayodhya after his 14 years in exile. He was then welcomed with arrays of diyas, the small clay lamps - which we see outside every home, and along the streets during this festival.

Our neighborhood is looking like a fairy-land - all lit up, really beautiful. And what a joy: still some days left for celebrations - you got to love the festivals in India! They just go on and on!

Happy Diwali, dear reader. I wish you the best.


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16 comments:

  1. Anonymous4 November 2013 at 00:36

    Happy Diwali!

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    1. Unknown4 November 2013 at 16:30

      Thank you Alexandra! Happy Diwali and all the best to you and your wonderful family:-)

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  2. Rajesh4 November 2013 at 14:07

    Wish you Happy Deepavali.

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    1. Unknown4 November 2013 at 16:31

      Thank you and Happy Diwali to you and your family Rajesh:-)

      Delete
  3. Arti4 November 2013 at 15:21

    Happy Diwali to you too Eli :)

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  4. Asmita4 November 2013 at 20:26

    Happy Diwali Eli! I am sure it must be so festive at this time in Mumbai. Sad I am not there to celebrate it with my family. Luckily we do have some wonderful friends here who have become family, celebrating it with them.

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    1. Unknown4 November 2013 at 22:03

      Thank you Asmita! Yes, Mumbai is crazy these days, and also very beautiful! A fantastic festival:-) All the best to you and your family:-)

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  5. desi Traveler5 November 2013 at 01:32

    Beautiful. Happy Diwali.....

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    1. Unknown5 November 2013 at 10:50

      Thank you Prasad:-) Happy Diwali to you and your family:-)

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  6. Anita Sabat5 November 2013 at 15:18

    Great to find so many Posts about India in your Blog, Eli! :)
    Am sure you enjoyed Diwali! Christmas will have a charm of its own here!
    Best wishes to you and many incredible celebrations in Incredible India! :)

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    1. Unknown6 November 2013 at 17:15

      Thank you so much:-) Your feedback and positive wishes makes me so happy - glad you like it! Happy to connect with you:-)

      Delete
  7. Unknown9 November 2013 at 12:34

    Hi Eli,

    It is nice to see such detaild piece of information on Indian culture and festivals.
    Keep flowing with your wonderful blogs opening new windows into the lives of Indian culture.

    Regards,

    Sonal Patil.

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    1. Unknown9 November 2013 at 14:46

      Thank you so much Sonal Patil:-) Your feedback is very encouraging and makes me so happy. I so appreciate it:-) I am glad you like it, and please visit again:-)

      Delete
  8. Pravin7 December 2013 at 13:07

    Nice to know that you have researched on the Diwali festival and I hope if you are here by next Diwali you might yourself prepare the food items like laado, chakli, chiwada, etc. :-)

    I guess you might have experienced the aroma of above mentioned food items prior to few days of Diwali which comes out from the neighboring and from almost every household in India.

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    1. Unknown7 December 2013 at 22:24

      Thanks for following Pravin! Yep - learning every day:-) It was a wonderful celebration:-) Best to you:-)

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