Happy Diwali!

Diwali Meaning & Significance -

Deepavali is a festival where people from all age groups participate. They give expression to their happiness by lighting earthen 'diyas' (lamps), decorating the houses, bursting firecrackers and inviting near and dear ones to their households for partaking in a sumptuous feast. The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valor and fame. It is one time in the whole year that children volunteer to leave their beds long before the day begins. In fact, the traditional oil bath at 3 a.m, is the only chore that stands between them and the pre-dawn adventures. They emerge, scrubbed clean to get into their festive attire, and light up little oil lamps, candles and scented sticks(agarbathis), the wherewithal for setting alight crackers and sparklers. On Diwali night, little clay lamps are lit in Hindus homes, but now a days colored electric lamps are also used. What is the significance of lighting a lamp? There is a logical answer to this question. It is through the light that the beauty of this world is revealed or experienced. Most civilizations of the world recognize the importance of light as a gift of God. It has always been a symbol of whatever is positive in our world of experience. To Hindus, darkness represents ignorance, and light is a metaphor for knowledge. Therefore, lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction, through knowledge, of all negative forces- wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice, oppression and suffering, etc. Competition is stiff, and even the little girl in silk frocks and their finery are watching out for the best sparklers and flowerpots, the rockets and Vishnuchakras, which light-up the night sky like a thousand stars. Festive bonhomie abounds.

Surprisingly enough, we have been exposed here in the middle of nowhere to some cultural variety. On one side of us lives a family from China. On the other, a couple from India. They are awesome neighbors. Miss Anjana is the kind you call when you need someone to feed the cats while you're away, and she will do it happily although she is NOT a fan of the feline species. If you're lucky they invite you to parties with amazing Indian food, and the kids are enveloped by women of all ages in brightly colored saris and gold jewelry who pat the kids' cheeks and offer them sweets. You'll feel drab dressed in your regular clothes, and secretly wish you could wrap yourself up like the women in their gorgeous silks, or the men in their comfy lango shirts.

My neighbor has recently gone to India, so unfortunately there are no Diwali festivities underway around here. But if you feel up to it, eat some curry and light some lamps. Five days of Diwali - the festival of lights - starts today folks!