Diwali (Festival of Lights) in India is very much like Christmas in the US. It is considered India's most celebrated holiday. Most companies are closed for almost a week to give everyone a chance to go home and visit their families. Many of our Indian friends traveled 15 to 24 hours by train to get home to their villages! Hard to imagine!! Gift giving is just one very small aspect of Diwali. The most important part is being with your family, making and eating SWEETS!!! Not much chocolate but delicious just the same!!! Rangoli is another huge part of Diwali. Every one does this art in their front doorway. Beautiful!!! I had a rangoli lesson at the office!!! Thank you Jyoti, Tulsi and Dorina!!
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| Jyoti working on Rangoli art at office |
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| Deb trying her hand at Rangoli |
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| Deb, Dorina, Jyoti and Tulsi |
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| Rangoli at office |
Dave and I made sweets for all our Indian friends here in Pune. Our sweets did include chocolate!! : ) and oatmeal to make them just a bit healthy!!
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| Chocolate oatmeal treats! |
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| Deb finally finishing Diwali treats! |
We also painted some Diyas we got on the street!
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| Diyas being sold on the street |
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| Diyas we started painting! |
There were forts for sale on the streets but we didn't purchase one. The miniature mud forts remind people of the valiant struggle and heroic deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his soldiers. Most Hindu's make their own fort out of mud and have them in their yards! The forts are decorated with animals and soldiers. Idols of Shivaji are placed on the top of the fort. You will see these on our walk a bit later!!! We did buy a minature Chota Beam! I couldn't resist! He is kinda like David in the story of David and Goliath!! The children here love him! (Gabi our grand daughter loves him, too!) Yes, we walked for miles on Diwali!!
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| Forts being sold to us foreigners! |
The hotel did some decorating for Diwali! They used flowers for their Rangoli art! Really cool!
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| Deb, Dave and Nitin at hotel with flower Rangoli art! |
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| Lights out at pool area |
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| Flower rangoli art at restaraunt |
Diwali Eve afternoon we went to vist Nitin's family. Nitin works with Dave and was kind enough to invite us over to share Diwali treats. Nitin's daughter showed us the rangoli she did on their patio. The kids learn at a very early age how to pour the rangoli powder and make very creative designs.
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| Nitin, Nitin's wife Suneeta, daughter Kashmira and Dave |
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| Nitin, Suneeta and Kashmira with rangoli |
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| Dave, Deb and Kashmira |
On Diwali eve we went to Renu and Sandeep's home to celebrate. There were Diyas lighting the patio and table. Diyas are made of clay. Some are painted (we painted lots of them!) others left natural in all shapes. Oil is poured in and a cotton wick is lit. Very festive. We ate lots of really good traditional Indian snacks and shared the night with friends that had just adopted a little 2 year old. Samay. Very cute!!!
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| Renu and Sandeep |
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| Debbie and Samay |
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| Renu lighting Diyas |
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| Diwali gang lighting sparklers |
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| Sandeep and Dave |
Diwali eve is also the night that the God Laxmi is welcomed. Laxmi is the God of wealth. There are a few days during Diwali that are considered auspicious and on those days every one is out buying gold and silver to offer to the God Laxmi. Then on Diwali Eve between 6 and 8 PM there is a pooja performed and the gold and or silver is offered so that God Laxmi will be with them fianacially through the year.
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| Offering to God Laxmi in Diwali Eve |
Fire works are a huge part od Diwali as well. All night you can hear Crackers going off. Crackers are what all fire works are called in India. I am not a huge fan of Crackers unless they are far away!!! But, it was kinda cool to listen to them and see them in the sky!
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| Fire works from balcony |
The day of Diwali we were invited to Rupesh's house for dinner. Rupesh's wife Vandana, cooked a really great traditional Indian dinner for us. It was delicious!!! She is a great cook!! Maybe I need to take a few lessons! : )
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| Traditioanal Diwali Dinner |
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| Rupesh and Dave chcking out coins for Laxmi |
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| Rupesh's son Hunny and Deb playing on couch |
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| Hunny, Vandana and Rupesh (Hunny not to happy) |
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| Rupesh enjoying dinner |
We also went out into the parking lot and Rupesh and David lit off crackers while we watched. I did hold a huge sparkler! I had never seen one so big!!!
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| Dave watching Rupesh light fire works |
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| Dave enjoying sparklers! sort of! |
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| Vandana and Hunny with sparkler |
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| Fire works in parking lot!! |
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| Hunny taking pics of fire works |
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| Dave and Deb not sure of these sparklers |
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| Vandana and Deb in parking lot at fire works |
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| Deb and Dave at Rupesh's parking area fire works |
The next day, Digambar invited us over to meet his family!! He has such a sweet family. This was a very special day for us. When some one takes you to meet their family you are being welcomed with such open arms! We could only stay for a short visit but it was a day we will always remember. We took lots of pictures!!
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| Dave, Digambar, Deb and Dhanashri |
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| Digambar and his Mom |
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| Dave, Pooja and Debbie |
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| Digambar dancing |
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| Dave, Digambars Mom and Debbie |
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| Digambar and his family on Diwali |
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| Debbie and Dhanashri wih beautiful shawl gift! |
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| Worship cabinet at Digambars |
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| Digambar and Dave leaving Dig's home |
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| Children in Digambar's society |
We also went to a place called Choki Dhani with Rupes's family. It was a great night. The meaning of Choki Dhani is "good town". It is a recreation of a Rajatranian village. There was so much to see and enjoy. We were there for 4 hours and I think there was still more that we could have seen and done! Dinner was especially different. Every one sits arround the room on the floor and has a small square table in front of them with a large foil tray and 5 small foil bowls. All empty. This meal is called "Thali". Then, a servant will walk around the room with a pail and ladle your food into your bowls and unto your tray!! Veeery interesting!! It is an all you can eat night! Once dinner was over, 2 servants took a 8 yards of cloth and spun it into a tight turban. As you can see, Dave and I just had to try it on! : )
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| Deb being blessed |
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| Dave being blessed |
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| Dave and Deb dressed in Rajastanie outfits |
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| Rupesh, Vandana and Hunny |
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| Deb trying out the gong! |
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| Avi (Vandana's brother), Deb, Dave Hunny and Vandana |
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| Dav, Deb, Hunny and Vandana |
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| Avi, Vandana, Hunny and Deb in tree fort |
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| Deb and Dave dancing! |
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| Balloon target! |
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| Dave shooting ballons |
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| Dave doing archery |
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| Balancing act |
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| Stick balancer |
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| Hunny and Vandana with characters |
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| Server at restaraunt |
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| Dave and Deb |
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| Pony cart ride |
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| Dinner at restaraunt |
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| Train ride, Hunny and Vandana |
We also went for a long walk on Diwali. We walked for about 3 hours and met some really sweet people in a village just past Mundhwa. I took a few pictures!!!
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| Child writing on board on street (his school lesson) |
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| Art using rangoli |
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| Kids running up alley from cricket game |
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| Quiet alley before I was spotted! |
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| Fort built by family in village |
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| Kids in village |
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| Woman buying fruit at market |
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| Kids wanting picture taken |
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| Village family |
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| Baby cobra in jar caught in village |
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| Cows even get ready for Diwali with red paint |
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| Dave with Diwali decorated truck! |
Our final stop before Diwali Eve was one of our favorite places to eat, "Malaka Spice"!!
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| Deb and Dave at Malaka Spice |
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| Crispy Dim Sum Veg! |
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| Deb and Dave lunch time |
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| Lanterns at Malaka Spice |
Diwali was a very special time in India. We would like to thank every one that included us in their celebrations!! A time we will never ever forget! THANK YOU to all our great friends here in India!!
