Diwali: Festival of Lights India Night Indian Dance - The Overseas ...

e Indian culture Indianone of the ten incarnations of Vishnuto his home town after 14 years ofexile. In joyous anticipation, hissubjects turned night into day with oillamps lining every house and street.Another legend has Krishna defeatingthe evil demon Narakasura, andyet another tells of the vanquishingof pride by another incarnation ofVishnu, the Vamana. For many itis the start of the new financial yearand Lakshmi pooja, or prayers to thegoddess of wealth, are in order.So how does one celebrate Diwali? InSouth India, you begin the day witha pre-dawn ritual bath, and wear newclothes and eat sweets. Then beginsa flurry of setting of fireworks thatoften continues into the night. Whilefireworks are inseparable from Diwali,the governments of many cities haverealised that there is a significant dropin the air quality levels on Diwaliand have begun restricting both thedecibel levels as well as chemicalcontent of the fireworks.Watch out for Diwali melas all overtown, where there will be booths andstalls selling handicrafts and hennatattoos. Diwali parties will mushroomall over town, often late in theevening, culminating with fireworks.Many hotels will have Diwali bashesand most housing complexes willhave neighborhood block parties.Dress up for these parties. You willbe competing with the fireworksso raise your glitter level severalnotches! It is customary to takesweets to one of these parties andoften to receive some from your hostas well. Neighbors will send boxesof sweets over to each other andsmall clay lamps are a good presentas well. Light a row of lamps outsideyour house and on either side of yourfront door if you want to decorate ala Diwali. There are inexpensive andvery pretty ethnic lamps and candlesavailable almost everywhere and area great gift to take back home aroundChristmas time as well.Photo by Sarah KhatriThe Rangoli 11/2010 19