The Festival of Lights

Tonight is Devali (The Festival of Lights). From what I gather Devali is a time of celebrating good over evil which accord many years ago when god Krishna’s wife killed a demon. There are many different facets to it like most holidays but it appears most religious significance is lost. Now it appears to be what Christmas is in most American households a time to give gift, decorated houses with candles and lights, wear new clothes, oh and one more thing EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE sets off fire crackers. It is rather surreal so much so that I scrapped the entry I was working on (well postponed it) to tell you about this evening.

Everything was normal until 6pm (except for the incessant sound of exploding firecrackers) and then the fireworks started. You know how ephemeral fireworks are; they’re there and gone so quick and the show never lasts long enough. Well, that is not exactly the case here in India for Devali. As I write to you it is 10:25pm and the sounds of fireworks and crackers (or bombas as they are called here) are still thundering all around me. And anyone who has had the misfortune of sitting through a firework show with me can tell you I love fireworks; I get really awed by them. But after an hour of the resounding sounds of explosions and the glow of fireworks coming in every direction I just had to call it quits. But the spirit of Devali wouldn’t let me get away that easy.

At around 7pm the kids started lighting there little bombas and wanted my full attention. Yet that was difficult for me to do as the night seemed so foreboding. The loud cracking of the fireworks seemed to have thrown the bats out of sorts. Yes bats! There were these 3 bats that kept dive bombing at my head and into the trees and walls, it was weird; not to mention the frogs jumping around. I swear I am not making this up!!!! All though I have a fondness for bats and frogs it really set an eerie scene so I prayed that the bombas the kids were lighting were put together with more skill and craftsmanship than the last two pair of shoes I bought which I only wore for a week before completely falling a part. I was terrified that the fireworks might have been made with the same casualness and lack of attention to detail that seems to permeate through the entire textile industry in India. But all is well that ends well, right.

I am going to bed now…thank God for earplugs!

OK, OK, I will post something!!! Gosh….

But seriously I am so sorry for causing the mass hysteria. I had no idea how much you people loved reading my blog. Honestly, you guys are like addicts, “Stephanie, I need something, just give me a little story, anything you got.”

No but seriously this time, I am really touched by how many people wrote to me to check up on me and my adventures in India. I am sorry for keeping you waiting for soooo long; life has literally been out of my control. But I should have a couple good stories under my belt in the next couple days. So tell your friends to start checking the old blog again and I will try my best to make this wait worthwhile.

I love you all. Thanks for being such a great source of support for me!