Diwali

Diwali is ... a festival of lights ... instead of just one day ... you get five (or six, depending on your religion) CRAZY nights.

We are coming full circle as we enter our second year in India and are starting to celebrate holidays for the second time. Last year I was newly pregnant during Diwali, though nobody knew. What a difference one year makes, eh?

I could sit here and google Diwali, and then plagiarize the meanings and customs surrounding it, or you could click on the blue link above and read what I wrote last year about it. Awe heck, twist my arm, I'll do it for you.

Simple stated, Diwali signifies victory of good over evil. Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains light diyas, cotton string wicks inserted in small clay pots with oil, in rows to welcome Rama home after a 14-year exile. During Diwali, it is customary to purchase new clothing, share sweets and snacks, and light fireworks. Commercial grade, loud as heck, gonna blow somebody's fingers off firecrackers.

Tonight we attended the American School's annual Diwali celebration, which is actually two weeks before the actual holiday, and on the eve of Matt heading to the States for a meeting. I bought the girls new dresses with my in-laws, and they were very excited to wear them. We met up with several family friends at the school and had a great time sweating our butts off in the insanely hot and humid evening, watching the girls NOT eat yet another dinner. Fun times. But the fireworks display? Thoroughly enjoyed by all... especially the kids, who couldn't contain their squeals of delight every time a boom went off and the sky was lit up like a million shiny diamonds.