Friday, October 31, 2008

Diwalli Celebrations

Crack. Bang. Ka-Boom. Giggle giggle. Snicker snicker. Whizzzz Zoom. These are the sounds of the street and today they are in full swing. Kids set off firecrackers and then run like mad. The loud bangs pierce my eardrums and with each ignition I nearly jump out of my skin with fingernails launched into the ceiling. This has been going on for three days solid and exponentially increases through the holiday.
The anticipation of Diwalli has been building for weeks and preparations are well underway. Lots of food and decadent sweets are made for the family and shared with the Holy Men, the Brahmans. Lights and decorations are strung up adding colour and vibrancy to the dusty streets. Bob’s crew of Punjabi boys were really geared up … they got their hands on a real gun and blasted some bullets into the sky. Hee Haw! Adrenaline and blood sugar levels were at an all time high. After sunset we lit the candles and watched the show. Fireworks in every direction were lighting up the sky. It was a sight to behold, a spectacle for kids and adults alike. You sure had to be on guard for renegade sparks though ... they could sneak up on you and light you in the ass.

No comments: