Diwali

Diwali is a huge celebration in Hinduism, symbolising the return of Lord Ram from battle after killing the Ravana and triumph of good over evil. It is traditional to light diyas (candles) and fireworks, and do a pooja (prayer) for Ganesh (the God of ausipicious beginnings) and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Drawing my first swastika like a good Hindu wife


Making footsteps of Lakshmi into our apartment. It's said to bring prosperity.

The downstairs neighbors had a nice diyas and decor. This was our first so it was a bit less ornate.


After the ceremony, we went on the roof to admire the Diwali lights and watched fireworks from every direction possible - under us, above us, left, right, everywhere. It was unreal. This lasted for at least 5 hours and it sounded like gunshots in a war zone. But it was very very cool. The garbage leftover from the firecrackers the next morning was so immense, I thought it would surely stay until next Diwali. But amazingly within a few hours it had been entirely swept clean. Imagine that, efficiency.