Have you heard of Diwali? This festival is one of the most important events in Hindu culture when light overcomes darkness. That’s why almost all houses, and basically everything is covered with garlands of lights and candles. It’s as if Christmas came early…without the pine tree and the gift mountains (many of which are returned to the store after the holiday).
And the gates of the houses in the twinkling lights are wide open for EVERYONE! Families, all dressed to the nines in festive clothes (bought especially for the occasion each year), invite all passers-by, whether local or tourist, into their homes with a big smile on their faces. They are just as welcome in a tiny, modest little dwelling as they are in a multi-story, multi-generational house. Behind the smile, there is genuine openness, joy, and love: no prejudices, just the moment, the celebration and sharing of the holiday with everyone.
Diwali tour in Triolet
We visited Triolet, where after admiring the festive splendor of the Maheswarnath Mandir (temple), we wandered the streets, the houses in more and more colorful lights, the music, and the fireworks all testified to the importance of Diwali. Of course, the prayers and related rituals, the images and statues of the gods, the food (which, as with all festivals, is strictly meat-free) and, of course, the ladies’ fancy and colorful dresses and accessories were all part of the celebrations.
Every family sitting at the doorstep is laden with a variety of local delicacies, sweet of course, as the locals prefer them to salt. Here I would like to draw your attention! It’s a good idea to go on a Diwali tour on a strictly empty stomach because no matter how much you want to, you won’t get away with sampling the cavalcade of cookie mountains… and then munching 🙂
You can admire the tiny shrines of houses awash with light and color, where statues of deities (most notably Ganesha the elephant-headed, Hanuman the monkey-headed, and of course Shiva) are also dressed in Diwali finery, even a mini disco ball, so we got to see Ganesha, for example, celebrate light in a 21st century way.
Though the lights go out the next day, the revelry and fireworks cease, the heart-warming love that these kind people radiate towards us strangers from other cultures can change your whole life, or at least make you think: would I be able to share the moment, the joy, one of the most important days of my culture, with a stranger from the street, without such open exaggeration, without any frills, without any spasms, without any frills, which is so characteristic of our holidays…
Are you ready to open the doors of your house and your heart to the outside world?
