Diwali, the festival of lights is one of the only celebrations my family makes every year, even when we were in Canada. This year, it was extra special because I was able to celebrate it with my extended family, IN India..something that I havent ever been able to do.
Diwali is always celebrated on the darkest night of the month, a new moon night, and also the stillest night of the year. So that any of the dias(candles) that are lit, are not burnt out.
It is the celebration of the Goddess of Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth) and Ganesh (the God of good fortune) so you are supposed to be with family to welcome them both into your homes, for wealth and good fortune.
In Bengali celebrations, it is also Kali Puja, Kali being the destroyer of all darkness. This year they both happened to fall on the same night. So I think the intensity in the air was that much more...
Me, being the accident prone, absent minded female that I am, burnt myself within the first 15 minutes of the fireworks and was subjected to holding ice to my thumb for the rest of the evening.
That aside, it was a wonderful night, one I enjoyed thoroughly and one I look forward to next year, hopefully minus any of the battle wounds.
The celebrations continued all night, at times sounding like there was a war going on outside.
The following photos are of this last night, full of colour, fire, loud noise and of course, drink..














Happy Diwali to all!
Peace and Love,
Ro