Different Diwali... Best Diwali......

It was hot scorching & fierce summer days in Seychelles & it was time for Diwali festival celebrated all over. The festival of Noise, Crackers & Blazing light!!

One of my colleagues in office, a Seychelles native, asked me about importance of this festival. I just escaped saying that, mythologically this is the festival of triumph of The Good over Evil & we light oil lamps & burst fire crackers. For a moment, I pondered "How strange that, I knew very less of this magnificent festival?"

I was gazing my head all day to know more about Diwali myself... At the very instance, one of my Indian neighbor came home asking if I have got all pooja materials prepared for Diwali, like rangoli color to decorate the home, recipes for Diwali sweets, the sacred powder for oil bath, the do's & dont's during festival etc etc. Here again, I was thunder stuck.

I paused the very moment & tried to recollect every season of Diwali I spent back home as a child. Even my hubby agreed with my wry looks and was frank to accept that he was least aware of any pooja done in this festival!!! That was a great relief for both.... Because all we remember is only burst crackers from dawn till yawn.... All the time we had believed "Diwali" was just a festival of Crackers and nothing else.

This was not the time to call up somebody back home and ask about details of the festival. Beginning from starting date of feast, the importance of new moon, the Laxmi pooja, when to burn crackers, how many days to celebrate, what to cook etc etc..because Ego hurts!!!

Our great friend Mr Internet came to our rescue. I wonder how this internet is such a big boon, it helps in everything; from making Laddu, Dosa to information on even "How to make bombs!!". This Internet was not just enough, our other Indian friends too helped. So with apt info, we set to enjoy the gala of Lights!

Far away from India, with colleagues like a big family, enthusiastic neighbors of our apartment, we all got together to celebrate the Diwali week. First time ever, we enjoyed the festival of Light without bursting crackers or even missing them. We had guests visiting our home, sweets shared, diyas lighted, new dress worn, devotional music played, had food together, got photographed, had great laugh and the enthusiasm was immense.

Now, let anyone ask me. I'll not escape from explaining the importance of Diwali, for I have realized how wonderful this festival is and how simple it can be with loads of fun. It has for sure driven away the Evils from our minds by setting in the Good values. This festival of light lit the light of our senses for the bright & positive days ahead!!!!!
Happy Diwali!!