The hindu festival of Diwali is coming up on the 9th and this time I will be celebrating it at home with my parents after 8 years. So its a pretty big deal. Secondly its the first Diwali we are celebrating in the new house so its another reason that this years its a big deal. (Update: Nov 8th 2007: Ok, it is the first Diwali After the house was completed. Surabhi celebrated the first Diwali in the house.)
Diwali is also known as the festival of lights so I spent the most of yesterday evening and today evening hanging electric lights around the house. It was a big task, so far we (me and dad) have put up 17 strings (not sure what to call them, In US they are known as Christmas Lights, in Hindi they are called Bijli ki ladi). Still have another 10 to go for tomorrow. This one will be the interesting one as its on the highest part of the roof and one of us will have to climb up and hammer all the nails over there for the lights. Then comes the wiring. This time we decided that since this is our permanent house we will measure out the appropriate lengths of wire and make a permanent setup that can we put up easily next year. Thats whats taking most of the time. Well that and the hammering of nails.
While me and dad were busy putting up the lights mom was busy cleaning the house and shopping. (More cleaning than shopping).
Tomorrow is Choti Diwali, so we will be performing a small Puja in the evening and then on the 9th we will have a full puja and will be lighting up the Diya’s and candles. I am not bursting any crackers this year as usual because somehow they have lost the charm. If my cousins and/or friends were around I would probably change my mind and spend hours with crackers. I remember when we were kids we would start purchasing crackers and planning the order that we would burst them months in advance. Those were the days. Man I miss them…
This year we will just go to the roof and watch the fireworks display as the rest of Noida celebrates Diwali. We will probably be having our dinner on the roof itself. Should be fun.
Oh those of you who are wondering what Diwali is all about, here’s a brief summary: Diwali is a major Hindu festival. Known as the Festival of Lights, it symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. Diwali also marks the beginning of a new financial year. Households and businesses begin new accounting in new ledgers, which are often decorated with images of Lakshmi. The goddess of fortune, she is the main deity honored during Diwali.
More information on Diwali is available at the following sites:
http://www.dgreetings.com/gifts-to-india/diwali-gifts/tradition-of-diwali-lights.html
Wikipedia entry for Diwali
Diwalifestival.org
Well, wishing you all a very Happy and prosperous Diwali. (In advance. Not sure if I will be blogging on Diwali day itself).
Take care,
Suramya